New Delhi: The Congress party on Sunday demanded that the government provide clear answers on whether it had accepted third-party mediation on Kashmir, after the United States made announcements on behalf of India and Pakistan. The party also criticised attempts to "internationalise" the issue.

Sachin pilot questions US involvement

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot said the "ceasefire" announcement came as a surprise, marking the first time a third country had spoken on behalf of both India and Pakistan. He questioned the United States' attempt to "hyphenate" the two countries.

Pilot said the government must accept the opposition's demand for another all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, as well as convene a special session of Parliament to discuss these developments.

"Events have changed swiftly in the last 24 hours," Pilot noted. "We were all surprised after the announcement of ceasefire was made by the US President through social media."

Concern over internationalisation of Kashmir

Pilot stressed that "an attempt was made to internationalise the issues between India and Pakistan," highlighting that such actions were unprecedented. He said the government must clarify its position and take the nation and all political parties into confidence.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had announced on Saturday that India and Pakistan had reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.

Pilot raised concerns about the credibility of such a ceasefire, stating, "On what conditions the ceasefire has been declared and what is the guarantee that such things would not be repeated, as there is no credibility left after yesterday's events (violations). How can we believe them and what is the guarantee that such developments will not happen again?"

Calls for clear stand on Kashmir

Referring to US President Donald Trump’s social media posts on Kashmir, Pilot said the government should clearly explain its side. "Kashmir is a bilateral issue and the attempt to internationalise it, I feel, is not proper."

He recalled that Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution in 1994 to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and suggested, "It is time to repeat it," adding that a message of unity should be sent to the world.

"A special session be convened and the 1994 resolution be adopted again and it may be made clear that no third party involvement will be accepted," he asserted.

Pilot insisted that the government must make it clear that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and that "no country, including America, should have a space to intervene."

Support for armed forces

Pilot acknowledged the strong, united support the government received from all parties and citizens following the Pahalgam terror attack.

"I appeal that the government should convene an all-party meeting immediately. We are all proud of what our soldiers and our armed forces have done to teach Pakistan a lesson. We are proud of the actions taken by our armed forces," he said.

Ceasefire raises doubts

Pilot pointed out the inconsistencies in US statements. "Several questions have arisen after the US announcements made on social media," he said, noting that the US had initially said, "it is none of our business" before the President, Secretary of State, and Vice President announced a "ceasefire" and India and Pakistan followed with their own announcements.

"Has the government accepted this mediation? Under what conditions has the government accepted? This raises questions," he asked, referring to the mention of Kashmir in the US statements and suggestions of future talks at a "neutral site."

Pilot criticised President Trump’s remarks, stating, "The American president wrongly said that they have been fighting for thousands of years, forgetting that the two were one country a few years ago."

He warned against attempts to "hyphenate" India and Pakistan, comparing the situation to an IMF bailout, and said a ceasefire declaration from Washington "raises several questions."

Call for national unity

Pilot also drew attention to comments made by former Indian Army chiefs and questioned whether future ceasefire violations could be expected.

"I feel we should convene an all-party meeting and the Prime Minister should attend that meeting. The Prime Minister should take the entire nation and all political parties into confidence on the developments," he said.

Recalling the 1971 war, Pilot said that despite America’s threat to deploy the 7th Fleet, the government led by Indira Gandhi acted in the supreme national interest. "We remember that government when national interest was supreme," he concluded.

PTI inputs