‘That is Interesting’: Priyanka Gandhi Responds to Jaishankar’s Operation Sindoor Statement, Highlights Absence of US Role Denial

New Delhi – Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra weighed in on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent statement in Parliament regarding Operation Sindoor, highlighting what she described as a “noteworthy omission” — a categorical denial of the United States’ role in the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement.

During the Monsoon Session in the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar clarified various aspects of the highly confidential Operation Sindoor, initiated in response to potential escalations between India and Pakistan earlier this year. While explaining the contours of the diplomatic and military strategy, Jaishankar subtly deflected speculation that foreign intervention — particularly from the United States or the White House — played any formal role in brokering the ceasefire.

“It’s interesting that he [Jaishankar] didn’t outright deny that the United States was involved. That silence speaks volumes,” Priyanka Gandhi told reporters during her visit to Rae Bareli on Monday.

📌 Background: What is Operation Sindoor?

Operation Sindoor is the codename assigned to a multi-pronged Indian initiative aimed at managing rising military and diplomatic tensions with Pakistan following a series of cross-border skirmishes and terror activity reports earlier in the year.

Rumors swirled around an impending airstrike, proxy attacks on forward bases, and a near-collapse in communication between the two South Asian neighbors. Media and strategic analysts have also pointed toward third-party influence, especially from Washington, in averting a full-blown confrontation.

🗣️ Jaishankar’s Statement in Parliament

While updating Parliament, Jaishankar maintained a careful tone, stating:

“India has always operated on the principle of strategic autonomy. Our engagement with all stakeholders is guided by national interest. No foreign government dictated our decision-making during Operation Sindoor.”

However, what stood out — according to many in the opposition — was that he neither confirmed nor outright denied media reports that a senior U.S. official had contacted both Islamabad and New Delhi days before the ceasefire was formally declared.

💬 Priyanka Gandhi’s Counterpoint

Priyanka Gandhi, a key face of the Congress party, responded sharply:

“When it comes to India’s sovereignty and military decisions, ambiguity is dangerous. The people of India deserve transparency — especially when foreign powers are rumored to be involved in decisions of national security.”

She further added that this selective clarity from the government raises concerns:

“You cannot have it both ways — boasting about diplomatic wins and refusing to give citizens the full picture of how those wins were achieved.”

🧭 Strategic Experts Weigh In

According to defense analysts, the government’s silence on US mediation rumors could either be a diplomatic maneuver to avoid admitting dependency or simply a strategy to maintain plausible deniability.

“From a foreign policy perspective, it is understandable that Jaishankar would want to avoid giving credit to any external actor. But the lack of a categorical denial leaves room for speculation — and that’s what Priyanka is calling out,” said Prof. A.N. Pradhan, a retired diplomat and geopolitical analyst.

📊 Political Implications

The Congress party has already begun using this perceived ambiguity as a political talking point in its campaign messaging. Sources indicate that this theme will be expanded in upcoming Parliament sessions and possibly during election rallies.

The BJP, on the other hand, is defending Jaishankar’s statement as “diplomatic precision” rather than evasion.

“We don’t need lessons on sovereignty from a party that signed away our security during the UPA era,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a press briefing, taking a direct dig at the Congress.

🧠 What’s at Stake?

This controversy touches upon two critical narratives:

1. India’s Strategic Autonomy – Has India truly operated without external influence during key defense decisions?

2. Government Transparency – Is the current administration being upfront about international diplomatic involvement?

For citizens, the concern is simple: Is foreign mediation influencing India’s security policies behind the scenes?

🧷 Key Takeaways:

• Priyanka Gandhi points out Jaishankar didn’t categorically deny US involvement.

• Operation Sindoor remains shrouded in secrecy.

• Jaishankar emphasized strategic autonomy, but did not address White House involvement directly.

• Congress plans to leverage this ambiguity in political messaging.