Pakistan Endorses China’s Mediation Claim in May India-Pakistan Conflict, Deepening Diplomatic Narratives

Islamabad has publicly backed Beijing’s assertion that China played a mediating role during the May 2025 India-Pakistan military conflict — a four-day confrontation that followed Operation Sindoor. For the first time, Pakistan agreed with Beijing’s characterization of diplomatic engagement between the two rival neighbours. 

Speaking at a press briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Chinese leaders remained in “constant touch” with Pakistani officials and had also made contacts with Indian leadership between May 6 and May 10 — the peak days of the crisis — which Islamabad described as positive and constructive diplomatic exchanges. According to him, such engagement contributed to tension reduction and regional stability. 

This endorsement contrasts sharply with Islamabad’s earlier narrative, which had previously credited only US President Donald Trump with playing a key role in pausing hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

India Rejects Third-Party Mediation

New Delhi has consistently rejected claims of third-party intervention in the conflict’s de-escalation. Indian officials have maintained that the ceasefire and halt in military operations were the result of direct military-to-military communication between India and Pakistan — specifically between their respective Directors General of Military Operations — and not influenced by external powers.

India’s firm position reflects longstanding diplomatic principles that disputes with Pakistan are bilateral and should not involve third-party mediation, especially given complex regional dynamics involving China and the United States.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi had earlier framed Beijing’s engagement during the May 2025 tensions as part of its broader diplomacy aimed at reducing hotspots and promoting dialogue. Wang included the India-Pakistan standoff among multiple global issues where China claimed a diplomatic role over the past year. 

Pakistan’s support for this claim adds a new dimension to South Asian geopolitics, particularly at a time when strategic alignments and rivalries shape diplomatic narratives across the region. The endorsement from Islamabad may influence how future negotiations, peace efforts and power 

Observers note that competing claims — from the United States, China and now Pakistan — reflect overlapping efforts by external powers to position themselves as influential brokers in South Asian security issues. Each narrative carries implications for future foreign policy, alliances, and diplomatic leverage.

The situation highlights not just shifting regional ties but also underscores how narratives around conflict resolution and mediation are increasingly used as diplomatic tools by major powers to shape global perceptions and influence strategic outcomes.