Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has firmly refuted claims that India leaked sensitive ceasefire details to the United States during Operation Sindoor. Speaking at an event hosted by the Vivekananda International Foundation, General Chauhan emphasized that the terms of the ceasefire were exclusively determined by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the involved nations, without any external mediation.
No Third-Party Role in Ceasefire Talks
General Chauhan's remarks directly challenge previous assertions, particularly those made by former US President Donald Trump, who repeatedly claimed to have mediated the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. According to Chauhan, the ceasefire was a direct bilateral decision. He recounted how the Indian DGMO deliberately chose the timing for the cessation of hostilities.
“The DGMO said he is not available till about 3 o'clock, and then at 3 o'clock he said and that we decided at 5 o'clock. So the ceasefire is decided between two DGMOs. And that's it. Means I don't see the role of anyone else,” General Chauhan stated.
Information Leak Denied by India
Addressing the question of how details might have reached the Americans before an official announcement, General Chauhan was unequivocal. “I'm really sure. It did not leak out from us,” he asserted. He suggested that the information might have originated from “the other side,” indicating Pakistan. He also highlighted the understanding of maintaining strict secrecy regarding DGMO-level conversations.
Refuting Trump's Mediation Claims
Donald Trump has frequently taken credit for the ceasefire, even linking it to his pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize. He had claimed that India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire after a “long night of talks mediated by the United States” and even suggested that the threat of high tariffs helped in placating both sides. India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently maintained that no world leader or third party was involved in the cessation of military action. While India denies any US role, Pakistan had previously thanked the US for its involvement.