- At an all-party meet, S Jaishankar said India will not act as a "go-between country" in the US-Iran conflict
- The minister referred to Pakistan's history of mediating in foreign conflicts
- The centre informed the parties that energy security is not a concern
During an all-party meeting today, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar reflected on Pakistan's mediation in foreign conflicts, the latest instance being Iran's war with the US and Israel. "India will not act as a go-between country like Pakistan," a member present at the meeting recalled the minister as saying.
Pakistan has offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran to end the ongoing war, and speculation of active backchannel diplomacy has intensified after US President Donald Trump shared a post by Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif expressing his eagerness to facilitate a resolution.
Such moves are driven by bilateral dynamics between Washington and Islamabad, sources told NDTV.
Islamabad has been doing this since 1981, a source said, pointing to the 'interests section' that Pakistan had been operating in the US to facilitate communication between Washington and Tehran.
In previous instances, Pakistan had mediated between the US and Taliban in Afghanistan in 2020 and between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2019.
Read: Pak Attempts To Act Mediator In Iran War, US-Tehran Talks Likely In Islamabad
Centre Rejects Criticism
Defending its handling of the Middle East crisis, the Centre rejected criticism over alleged inaction and policy ambiguity and stated that India has been engaged through statements, diplomatic outreach, and communication with all stakeholders, they added.
The members were also informed that 4.25 lakh Indians have been brought back from Iran so far, sources said, stressing that efforts are underway to monitor and protect the interests of those who remain in Iran.
The government also pointed out that the US sanctions on Iran have been in place for over 15 years, and that did not deter India from buying Iranian oil to secure its energy needs, they recalled.
An assurance followed that there is nothing to worry over energy security and that LPG supplies are stabilising, sources said. It was also highlighted at the meeting that a significant portion of India's crude imports come from Russia, they added, underlining a pragmatic and diversified energy strategy.
Read: Iran Stops Pak-Bound Ship From Crossing Hormuz Over Lack Of Permission
The government emphasised that the US remains India's largest business partner and highlighted the importance of Israel as a key technological and strategic partner, sources said.
The Centre reiterated that India maintains balanced relations across the Middle East, including continued engagement with Iran, while safeguarding national interests, they added.
India continues to be part of the Non-Aligned Movement, sources said, citing the government, while acknowledging that differing positions by Iran and the UAE have made a unified stance difficult in the BRICS grouping.
After the all-party meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters the government had answered all questions that were raised and that everyone said that they stood united.
