“We will not interfere [the way Pakistan is meddling in the internal affairs of a country]. We aren’t like Pakistan, we aren’t a ‘dalal’.”
S. Jaishankar, The Print, 25 March 2026
“The role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire is a severe setback to both the substance and style of Mr Modi’s highly personalised diplomacy. The policy to isolate Pakistan for its continuing support to terrorism in J&K and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded…”
Jairam Ramesh, The Print, 8 April 2026
“In its own interests, and in this year of India’s BRICS leadership, Delhi would have been so much better served by declaring that it backs all efforts to restore peace, irrespective of which country is involved, instead of mocking Pakistan’s efforts. After all, India stands to benefit, along with the rest of the world, if these efforts succeed.”
Nirupama Subramanian, The Indian Panorama, 3 April 2026
“I think it’s really Pakistan envy. I think it seems so dominant in our discussion that it’s a pity. India, today, has an economy 10x bigger than Pakistan’s…In the end, if anyone thinks mediators are going to fix the problem between Iran and the US, I think they are fundamentally mistaken.”
C. Raja Mohan, ThePrint, 1 April 2026
“Trump’s use of Pakistan as a possible mediator with Iran sparks memories of Nixon’s China talks and Bangladesh liberation.”
Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu, 25 March 2026
“Pakistan is mediating because it is desperate for relevance and has essentially no downside from trying. Neither applies to India. It has too much to lose from a failed attempt and too little leverage to guarantee success.”
Happymon Jacob, Hindustan Times, 29 March 2026
“Pakistan’s mediation offer is in some ways a diplomatic act of desperation. Siding with Saudi Arabia would mean siding with the US and Israel against Iran, which would have major domestic consequences, too. Let us therefore not lower our own dignity by arguing we have lost regional standing by the US countenancing Pakistani mediation over India’s.”
Kanwal Sibal, X (@KanwalSibal), 25 March 2026
“Pakistan has been chosen as a messenger for yet another US manoeuvre to keep channels open with Iran. This would not be the first Pakistani role in transmitting secret messages to a US adversary. In 1971, it did so with China (when Kissinger feigned a stomach ache to stage a visit to Beijing from Islamabad on a Pakistani plane). In return, Pakistan got a free pass for a genocide in its East.”
Ajay Bisaria, ANI / The Tribune, 1 April 2026
“The end to the US-Iran conflict is overwhelmingly in India’s interest, so we shouldn’t be cynical about the current process underway just because Pakistan is playing a mediatory role.”
T.C.A. Raghavan, The Quint, 18 April 2026
“I don’t see why, because honestly, not everything is zero-sum. If Pakistan were being applauded for sending terrorists to India, then it would be a zero-sum game. But when what the Pakistanis are doing is working for a peace that we also want, I think we should actually be celebrating.”
Shashi Tharoor, NDTV, 9 April 2026
“Pakistan was never isolated. It has a different choice of allies and partners, and that keeps changing with circumstances. So the idea that you’re going to isolate Pakistan is a fancy pie in the sky.”
Nitin Pai, Bloomberg, 9 April 2026
“Pakistan had a utility, and so it played a role. We shouldn’t fret too much about it.”
Arun Kumar Singh, Bloomberg, 9 April 2026