US changes course: ‘India-Pak’ need to have direct communication

Making a course correction, the US has said it was up to India and Pakistan to discuss issues between themselves by having “direct communication.”

The US State Department has said “both sides” need to have “direct communication” to preserve regional stability. On Tuesday, May 13, Thomas Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, was asked at a media briefing in Washington DC whether India had refused any US effort to mediate between India and Pakistan.

He was asked how hopeful the US was to be able to bring them together in the same room for talks. To this, Pigott said, “I’m not going to speculate on that.”

He added, “We encourage direct communication. We have been clear on that. We continue to encourage that direct communication.” In India, this is seen as a correction in the public stance of the US since May 10 when US President Donald Trump posted on X to announce the India and Pakistan ceasefire, saying “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a ‘full and immediate ceasefire’.”

He had also said, “I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.” Meanwhile, Pigott cited Trump saying, “the President has also been clear in praising both prime ministers (of India and Pakistan) for choosing the path towards peace and the wisdom and fortitude that that shows.”

Pigott’s words come in the backdrop of Indian officials, on May 11, making it clear that there would be no third-party mediation. On May 13, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a media briefing, had said, “We have a longstanding position that all issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed.”