Pakistan doesn’t impinge on India-US ties: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that Pakistan has any bearing on India’s ties with the United States, asserting that the relationship stands on its own merit and is not defined by third countries.  Addressing a press conference in Washington, Jaishankar said, “I would really urge you to get over the idea that we need to define ourselves regarding third countries in order to forge ahead in ties with Washington,” Jaishankar told reporters. “Big relationships are not forged in terms of third countries and where they fit,” he emphasised, responding to a question on whether Pakistan’s role has changed India-US ties. “The central factor in the relationship between India and the US is India and the US. It is our complementarity. In many ways, it is the benefits that we get from closer relationship that is actually driving it,” he said. Jaishankar underlined that India’s growing global stature demands greater self-assurance when engaging major partners. “We are a big country. We are among the top five economies of the world. We are the most populous country in the world. Our influence is growing,” he said. “We must have that confidence.” On former US President Donald Trump’s claim that he brokered the ceasefir— Directors General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai of India and Major General Kashif Abdullah of Pakistan — “I’d leave it at that,” he said.

Speaking to the press in Washington DC.
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— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 2, 2025

Earlier, Jaishankar met US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon and said he had a productive conversation on advancing the India-US defence partnership, building on growing convergences of interests, capabilities and responsibilities. During the meeting Hegseth expressed hope that it can complete several major pending American defence sales to India, as it stressed that Washington and Delhi are “mutually aware” of the security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth said the US and India are “mutually aware of the security concerns in the region, and both nations have the ability to counter that threat together."