ISLAMABAD: In a significant diplomatic development that has raised eyebrowsin New Delhi, Pakistan has publicly endorsed China’s claim that Beijingplayed a mediating role in de-escalating the intense military confrontationbetween India and Pakistan in May 2025, following India’s OperationSindoor. This endorsement marks a shift from Islamabad’s earlier narrative,which primarily credited United States intervention for the ceasefire.
The four-day clash erupted after India launched precision strikes underOperation Sindoor on May 7, targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure inPakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the deadlyPahalgam terror attack in April that claimed 26 civilian lives. Thehostilities ended abruptly on May 10 with a ceasefire agreed through directmilitary channels.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a speech late December, listed theIndia-Pakistan tensions among several global hotspots where China hadsuccessfully mediated, emphasising Beijing’s objective approach to conflictresolution. This claim initially drew sharp rebuttals from Indianofficials, who insisted no third-party involvement occurred.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, during a recentbriefing, confirmed that Chinese leaders maintained constant communicationwith Pakistani leadership and made contacts with Indian counterparts duringthe critical days from May 6 to 10. He described these exchanges aspositive diplomacy that helped lower temperatures and restore regionalpeace.
Andrabi explicitly stated that Pakistan firmly supports China’scharacterisation of its efforts as mediation, terming it diplomacy forpeace, prosperity, and security. This public backing represents the firsttime Islamabad has acknowledged Beijing’s role, diverging from previousacknowledgements of US President Donald Trump’s involvement.
The May conflict saw intense exchanges, with India asserting its strikesdestroyed nine terrorist camps without targeting Pakistani militaryinstallations. Pakistan retaliated, claiming successes withChinese-supplied weaponry, including downing several Indian aircraft,though details remain contested.
Indian sources have repeatedly clarified that the ceasefire was initiatedby Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations contacting his Indiancounterpart, leading to a bilateral understanding without externalmediation. New Delhi has dismissed both Chinese and American claims asinaccurate.
This Pakistani endorsement aligns closely with the China-Pakistanall-weather friendship, often described as higher than the Himalayas anddeeper than the oceans. Analysts suggest it underscores Beijing’s growinginfluence in South Asian affairs, particularly as Islamabad seeks tobalance narratives around the controversial ceasefire.
The development has prompted calls from Indian opposition parties for PrimeMinister Narendra Modi to address the conflicting claims, arguing theyraise questions about national security and the official account ofOperation Sindoor’s conclusion.
Geopolitical observers note that while direct DGMO talks formally sealedthe truce, backchannel communications involving major powers may haveinfluenced the rapid de-escalation, preventing a wider nuclear-shadowedconfrontation between the two neighbours.
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Pakistan’s shift in narrative could also reflect strategic considerations,emphasising multilateral diplomacy over unilateral US credit, especiallyamid evolving global alliances and China’s assertive role in regionalstability initiatives.
As tensions simmer beneath the surface, with both sides maintainingheightened military alertness along the Line of Control, this endorsementhighlights the complex interplay of great power involvement in Indo-Pakrelations.
The episode reinforces China’s ambition to position itself as a neutralpeacemaker in global hotspots, contrasting with perceptions of its strongmilitary support to Pakistan during the clashes.
Ultimately, the differing accounts from New Delhi, Islamabad, Beijing, andWashington illustrate the challenges in crafting a unified historicalrecord of the brief but perilous May 2025 standoff.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1964371
Tags: Pakistan, China, India, Operation Sindoor, Wang Yi, Narendra Modi
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