The Congress party launched a sharp attack on the Central government on Wednesday, demanding urgent clarification regarding China's alleged role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. This demand follows a claim by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Beijing played a mediating role in the conflict that erupted between the two South Asian neighbours in May 2025.
Congress Leader's Scathing Critique
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to express deep concern over China's assertion. He stated that the claim appears to "make a joke of India's national security." Ramesh drew parallels with former US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of personal intervention to halt Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025, which the Prime Minister has never addressed.
"Now the Chinese foreign minister makes a similar claim and says China also mediated," Ramesh wrote. He highlighted a crucial statement made by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Rahul Singh on July 4, 2025, who had publicly stated that during Operation Sindoor, India was "actually confronting and combating China."
Context of a 'Lopsided' Relationship with China
Ramesh framed the Chinese mediation claim within the broader, strained context of India-China relations. He argued that India's re-engagement with Beijing has been on Chinese terms, a position weakened by what he called the Prime Minister's "clean chit to China on June 19, 2020."
The Congress leader pointed to several ongoing issues:
- A record-high trade deficit with China.
- Continued provocative Chinese actions concerning Arunachal Pradesh.
- India's export dependency on Chinese imports.
"Amidst such a lopsided and hostile relationship, the people of India need clarity on what role China played in the abrupt halt to Operation Sindoor," he asserted.
China's Claim and India's Stance
The controversy stems from remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Symposium on the International Situation and China's Foreign Relations. Wang listed mediation "between Pakistan and India" among other global conflicts like Palestine-Israel, showcasing it as part of China's approach to settling hotspot issues.
This claim references the military confrontation in May 2025, which was triggered by a terror attack in Pahalgam valley, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, that killed 26 people. India's response was Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India has consistently and categorically rejected any claims of third-party mediation. The official Indian position maintains that the four-day confrontation was resolved through direct military-to-military communication. According to New Delhi, after suffering heavy damage, Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted the Indian DGMO, leading to a mutual agreement to cease all firing and military action from May 10, 2025.
The Congress's broadside places significant political pressure on the government to address these conflicting narratives publicly, framing the issue as one of national security transparency and strategic autonomy.
