New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India has once again rejected claims that any foreign power played a role in defusing the recent military escalation with Pakistan, asserting that the situation was brought under control through direct talks between the two armies.
Officials in New Delhi said the confrontation, which lasted four days, came to an end after Pakistan’s military leadership reached out following substantial setbacks along the frontier. According to the Indian side, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart, leading to a mutual decision to cease all hostilities across land, air, and maritime domains starting May 10. The government has emphasized that the agreement was strictly military-to-military, leaving no room for outside mediation.
Despite these assertions, China’s position during the crisis has come under renewed examination, particularly because of its long-standing defence relationship with Islamabad. Beijing is Pakistan’s leading supplier of arms and military technology, a fact that has heightened international interest in its stance during moments of regional instability.
Concerns about China’s involvement were amplified by a report released last November by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The body, which advises the US Congress, alleged that China mounted a coordinated disinformation effort in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The report claimed that fabricated social media profiles circulated AI-generated visuals depicting supposed aircraft debris, with the intent of damaging the global reputation of French-made Rafale fighter jets while subtly advancing China’s own J-35 fighter as a superior alternative.
While these allegations focused on the information space, Beijing’s official diplomatic response during the operation was measured but critical. On the first day of Operation Sindoor, China urged restraint and expressed unease over the unfolding developments.
“China finds India’s military operation early this morning regrettable and is concerned about the current situation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on May 7, calling on all parties to avoid further escalation.
India has remained firm in countering any suggestion that external actors influenced the outcome of the standoff, underscoring its position that the cessation of hostilities was the result of established communication mechanisms between the two militaries rather than behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
