New Delhi: Pakistan has publicly endorsed China’s claim that it played a mediating role during the brief but intense India–Pakistan military confrontation in May 2025, marking the first time Islamabad has acknowledged Beijing’s alleged involvement in what India has consistently described as a strictly bilateral military de-escalation.

The endorsement came during a press briefing on Thursday when Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Chinese leaders were “in constant touch” with Pakistan’s top leadership during the four-day conflict that followed India’s Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan’s endorsement of China’s role

According to Andrabi, Beijing maintained active diplomatic engagement between May 6 and May 10, 2025, the period during which India and Pakistan were engaged in heightened military exchanges following Operation Sindoor. He claimed that Chinese officials were also in contact with the Indian leadership before, during and after those days.

“So, I think those contacts, which were characterised by very positive diplomatic exchanges, did constitute bringing down temperatures and trying to bring peace and security in the region,” Andrabi said. “I’m sure that the Chinese characterisation of mediation is correct.”

He further stated that Pakistan “firmly supports” China’s position as articulated earlier by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, describing Beijing’s role as “diplomacy for peace, prosperity and security”.

A belated claim raises questions

Pakistan’s statement has drawn attention due to its timing. Until now, Islamabad had credited the suspension of hostilities largely to the intervention of US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly claimed that Washington played a decisive role in preventing the crisis from escalating further.

The Pakistani Foreign Office’s acknowledgement of China’s alleged mediation comes months after the conflict and represents a notable shift in Islamabad’s public narrative. Analysts say the delay raises questions about why Pakistan is now backing Beijing’s claim, particularly after previously highlighting American involvement.

Diplomatic observers note that Islamabad’s evolving position may reflect its growing strategic dependence on China amid strained relations with the West and persistent economic challenges at home.

India’s firm rejection of third-party mediation

India has consistently rejected claims of any third-party mediation in the May 2025 conflict. New Delhi has maintained that the pause in military operations followed a direct request from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, in line with established military communication protocols between the two countries.

Indian officials had earlier dismissed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s assertion that Beijing played a mediating role, reiterating that India does not accept third-party intervention in matters related to its national security and relations with Pakistan.

New Delhi has also rejected US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that Washington brokered the ceasefire, stating that the decision to halt operations was taken bilaterally through military channels.

Background: Operation Sindoor and the conflict

Operation Sindoor was launched by India in early May 2025 following a major terror incident, triggering a sharp military escalation along the Line of Control and other sensitive sectors. The confrontation lasted four days and involved intense exchanges before both sides agreed to a military pause.

While details of the operation remain classified, Indian officials described it as a calibrated response aimed at deterring further aggression. Pakistan, for its part, accused India of provocation while claiming it acted defensively.

The conflict raised regional and international concerns due to the nuclear capabilities of both countries, prompting several global powers to closely monitor developments.

China’s growing regional role

China’s claim of mediation aligns with its broader efforts to project itself as a stabilising force in South Asia. Beijing has deep strategic ties with Islamabad, including the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative involving investments worth several lakh crore rupees.

By contrast, India’s relationship with China remains strained, particularly after the prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 2020. Against this backdrop, Indian analysts view Beijing’s mediation claim with scepticism, seeing it as an attempt to enhance its diplomatic stature rather than an accurate reflection of events.

Competing narratives on de-escalation

China’s claim now mirrors the narrative put forward by US President Trump, who has repeatedly asserted that American diplomacy prevented a full-scale war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India has categorically rejected both narratives, stressing that bilateral military mechanisms functioned as intended.

Experts say the multiple, competing claims underline the geopolitical interest major powers have in South Asia, particularly during moments of crisis. “Every major power wants credit for peace, but in this case, India has been clear that no external mediation was involved,” a former Indian diplomat said.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s endorsement of China’s mediation claim adds a new layer of complexity to the already contested narratives surrounding the May 2025 India–Pakistan conflict. While Islamabad now aligns itself with Beijing’s version of events, India remains firm in its position that the military pause was achieved bilaterally without third-party involvement. As regional rivalries and global power politics intersect, differing accounts of the conflict’s de-escalation are likely to persist, reflecting deeper strategic alignments in South Asia.