Pakistan backs China’s claim of mediation during May India-Pakistan conflict
At a weekly press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Chinese leaders were engaged with both sides between May 6 and May 10. He said these exchanges helped calm the situation and reduce tensions in the region.
“So, I think those contacts, which were characterised by a very positive diplomatic exchanges, they did constitute in bringing down temperatures and trying to bring peace and security in the region. So, I’m sure that the Chinese characterisation of mediation is correct,” TOI quoted Andrabi as saying.
This is the first time Pakistan has publicly supported China’s claim of a mediating role in the four-day conflict. The timing has drawn attention because Pakistan had earlier credited only US President Donald Trump for the pause in hostilities.
India has consistently rejected claims of third-party mediation. New Delhi has said the military pause came after a request from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations to his Indian counterpart. India also dismissed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s statement that Beijing played a role during the crisis.
Andrabi said Pakistan agreed with China’s view and described the efforts as “diplomacy for peace, for prosperity, for security”. He said such diplomacy marked several international efforts during “those three-four fateful days”. He added that Pakistan “firmly” supported China’s position as stated by its foreign minister.
China’s claim aligns with repeated statements by US President Trump, who has said Washington played a key role in ending the confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
