New Delhi: Pakistan Thursday described China’s role during the May 2025 conflict with India as one of “peace” and supported Beijing’s claim of “mediating” an end to the situation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had Tuesday credited his nation for ending the conflict.
“The leadership of China, I understand, was in constant touch with the leadership of Pakistan, and had made certain contacts with the Indian leadership as well in those three, four days in May, 6th to 10th and maybe prior to that and after that,” Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press briefing.
“So, I think those contacts, characterised by a very positive diplomatic exchange, contributed in bringing down temperatures and bringing peace and security in the region. So, I’m sure that the Chinese characterisation of mediation is correct,” he added.
“This is also the reading and assessment of Pakistan and as regards what kind of diplomacy was undertaken by China. It was diplomacy for peace. It was diplomacy for prosperity, for security, and this has been a hallmark of a number of international efforts that went into resolving that conflict in those three-four fateful days. So, we support the position taken by China on this matter as described by the Foreign Minister of China,” Andrabi asserted to the media.
Wang had claimed Beijing’s role in bringing a halt to the conflict at a symposium in Beijing. Prior to Tuesday, China had not described its role as one of mediation since the India-Pakistan ceasefire was announced on 10 May. It should be noted that the majority of Pakistan’s military hardware over the previous half decade has been from China.
While India has not officially reacted to Wang’s statement, New Delhi has maintained the ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad was achieved through bilateral discussions and no third country played any role or “mediated” an end to the situation.
US President Donald Trump last year also took credit for mediating an end to India-Pakistan hostilities. New Delhi has rejected Trump’s claims, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi informing the US President in a call last June that the White House or tariff threats played no role in ending the conflict.
India has maintained that the decision to end operations was arrived at bilaterally through discussions through the appropriate channels, particularly between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
The 87-hour conflict between India and Pakistan began subsequent to launch of Operation Sindoor by India on 7 May against terrorist complexes in Pakistan. Islamabad retaliated by targeting Indian civilian infrastructure.
On 10 May, both sides agreed to a ceasefire, with the US initially and now China claiming credit for the agreement, despite New Delhi’s long held position that the situation between India and Pakistan would be handled bilaterally with no foreign interference.
Wang Tuesday also claimed to have mediated a number of conflicts, including Thailand-Cambodia, issues between Palestine and Israel and the Iranian nuclear issue. Trump has also claimed credit for mediating these conflicts.
Beijing’s claims, ironically, come after Pakistan used equipment from China, especially the PL-15 missiles and the J-10 aircraft, against India during the conflict.
Furthermore, Lt- General Rahul R. Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance) in July 2025 highlighted China’s active role in providing strategic inputs on Indian military positions to Pakistan.
For Beijing, Operation Sindoor was a “live lab” for testing its equipment against India, he said, pointing out that 81 percent of all Pakistani military imports in the last five years were from China.
Wang’s claims came at the end of a year that saw the return of some stability to ties between India and China. Following the agreement to disengage at the friction points across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), announced in October 2024, India and China implemented a number of confidence-building measures through 2025. Measures such as resumption of direct air services, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and issuance of tourist visas were all implemented starting the summer.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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There is a reason why the term “beggar” has become associated with Pakistan. It has now accepted its fate a vassal of whichever nation or entity keeps its wheels rolling !