Opposition questions US role in ceasefire, reiterates demand for special session of Parliament

India and Pakistan announced an understanding to stop military actions against each other after days of intense fight

Just as India and Pakistan announce a ceasefire after days of cross-border strikes and rising tensions, the war of words between BJP and Congress has begun.

It all began when US President Donald Trump claimed that India and Pakistan's ceasefire understanding came after US-mediated talks. However, India said it was Pakistan's DGMO who called his Indian counterpart for talks, which led to the cessation of hostilities.

What did Trump say?

“I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision,” Trump said.

 What did Congress say?

Slamming Trump, the Congress said Kashmir is not an age-old conflict. Congress MP Manish Tewari, responding to Trump’s remarks, said the Kashmir conflict began only 78 years ago and not a "biblical" one as implied.

"Someone in the US establishment needs to seriously educate their President @POTUS @realDonaldTrump that Kashmir is not a biblical 1000-year-old conflict. It started on October 22, 1947 - 78 years ago when Pakistan invaded the Independent State of Jammu & Kashmir that subsequently was ceded to India in' FULL' by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947, that includes areas illegally occupied by Pakistan till now. How difficult is it to grasp this simple fact?" Congress MP Manish Tewari posted on X.

The Congress also questioned the Centre on if it had accepted third-party mediation on Kashmir. India has always rejected any third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue. on Monday, it urged the Centre to clarify whether it is open to third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue, warning that such a stance could potentially violate the Simla Agreement.

Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot also said the US move to announce a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan was "unprecedented".

"An attempt was made to internationalise the issues between India and Pakistan. This is the first time this has happened," he said at a press conference, asserting the government must clarify while taking the nation and all parties into confidence.

The development also led many Congress leaders to make a comparison between former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s “tough stance” during the 1971 war with the present crisis.

In a post on X, Ramesh shared a letter written by her to then US President Richard Nixon on December 12, 1971. “Four days later, Pakistan surrendered,” Ramesh said arguing that India, under Indira, did not accept neutral mediation unlike now.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi placing the “unanimous request of the Opposition” to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and ceasefire.

What do other parties say?

The RJD and the Left also demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the situation.

RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha asked who gave Trump the mandate to talk about Kashmir.

“The announcement that had to come from our side… But a new ‘sarpanch’, ‘Chaudhary saheb’ (Trump) announced the ceasefire. He talked about Kashmir and its history. Who are you to talk about this when you don’t have the locus standi? It is against the spirit of the Simla accord. The mood of the nation is akin to what it was in 1971, it should remain so,” he  told PTI.

The CPI expressed serious concern over reported US involvement in facilitating the agreement. According to PTI, it demanded that PM  Modi explain what role the US played.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan, however,  welcomed the stoppage of military actions.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said PM  Modi should have announced the ceasefire “rather than the President of a foreign country”.

What does the Centre say?

The Centre , however, has not said anything about talks at a neutral venue. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, while confirming the move to stop military action, said the DGMOs of the two countries would speak on May 12.