A report published by The Times of India on Thursday, 9th April, has sparked controversy after it claimed that India welcomed a “Pakistan-brokered ceasefire” between the US and Iran. The headline of the article read, “India welcomed Pakistan brokered ceasefire, hopes it can lead to peace in Ukraine too.”
The report suggested that India, in its official response, acknowledged Pakistan’s role in mediating the ceasefire after six weeks of conflict in West Asia. It further stated that the Indian government expressed hope for lasting peace and highlighted concerns over disruptions in global energy supply and trade.
Quoting the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the report said, “As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict.” It also cited MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as saying, “India has always been in favour of peace. We welcome all steps that lead to peace and stability.”
What the MEA actually said
However, a closer look at the official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs shows that there is no mention of Pakistan at all. The MEA statement simply said, “We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia.” It further added, “As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict.”
Statement on the recent development in West Asia ⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 8, 2026
🔗 https://t.co/WwFCi4kXHg pic.twitter.com/wmsF4YUb7j
The statement also focused on the broader impact of the conflict, noting, “The conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks.” It emphasised the need for stability by stating, “We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz.”
No reference to Pakistan
Importantly, the MEA did not name any country involved in the ceasefire process. Unlike the claim made in the TOI report, there was no acknowledgement or “thank you” directed at Pakistan. The statement welcomed the ceasefire but remained carefully neutral, focusing only on peace, stability, and global economic concerns.
While the MEA did express hope that developments in West Asia could “encourage peace efforts in Ukraine,” this was a general diplomatic remark and not linked to any specific country’s role.
In conclusion, the claim that India welcomed a “Pakistan-brokered ceasefire” is not supported by the official statement. The MEA’s response was limited to welcoming the ceasefire itself, without crediting any particular nation, making the headline and framing of the report misleading.
