NEW DELHI: The latest documents released from Washington, DC, expose the fear, helplessness and strategic vulnerability of Islamabad during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan literally begged and pleaded with the United States to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad, thereby protecting the country from massive backlash and defeat. In return for mediation, the strategic favours that Pakistan offered to the United States is massive, which is indeed a threat to the geopolitical stability and security of South Asia.
Unable to bear the defensive capabilities and massive military strikes of India during Operation Sindoor, rattled Pakistan ran up to the United States pleading for help and offered more investment access for Washington in Pakistan, as a strategic favour in return. Pakistan also attempted to attract the US by exaggerating the country’s vast critical mineral resources, a claim that appears to be a myth, with the sole intention of courting the United States and its President, Donald Trump, who is enchanted by energy and mineral deals.
The documents filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal that, during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan pleaded with the United States to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad by offering additional investment opportunities, special access to the country’s critical minerals, and other strategic favours. Apparently, Pakistani defence officials and diplomats dialled, emailed and made in-person visits to Washington DC more than 50 times seeking mediation. Thus, Pakistan, to fulfil its hegemonic and illicit terror motives, kept the strategic autonomy, security and geopolitical stability of South Asia at stake. Islamabad aimed to escalate the India-Pakistan bilateral conflict into an international issue just to consolidate its terror agenda.
The FARA documents assert that Pakistan said it would “welcome a US mediating role”. Pakistan calls for an independent, impartial investigation of the attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The US facilitation of this would be welcome. Pakistan wants dialogue with India on counterterrorism, the Indus Water Treaty and all issues that divide the two countries. Stronger regional counterterrorism cooperation should include the United States. Pakistan believes a third-party facilitator could help both countries come to verifiable agreements”, read the document from Washington. This statement clearly testifies to the illicit motives of Pakistan. To mask its terror agenda, Islamabad aims to internationalise the bilateral conflict.
However, New Delhi has repeatedly reiterated that ‘terror and talks’ cannot go together. India and Pakistan are not equal stakeholders, as the latter is a breeding ground for state-sponsored terrorism. During Operation Sindoor, India hit and destroyed the 9 terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir and in the Pakistan mainland, which were safe havens for terror outfits of JeM and LeT. India has also affirmed that the cessation of hostilities was effected through the DGMO channel between the two countries, with Pakistan’s request to halt firing conveyed through the DGMO.
The strategic favours offered by Pakistan to the US
In return for a request to mediate, Pakistan offered big strategic favours to the United States. Islamabad agreed to purchase additional energy and agricultural products from the US, which appears to be a condition set by US President Donald Trump. Pakistan also offered US investors access to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which provides unhindered access and authority to US investors in the domains of cybersecurity, mining, agriculture, and related sectors.
Pakistan also appeased the United States by stating that it would regard the US as a vital partner in exploring, extracting, processing, and exporting the country’s vast and rich critical minerals, including copper, lithium, cobalt, and other rare-earth minerals. This is the biggest lie by Pakistan, as the country doesn’t hold any proven repository of the critical minerals. However, Pakistan has just learnt the art of appeasing the US President Donald Trump, who is in search of the energy reserves of the world.
Pakistan also called on the US to partner for financial restructuring and modernisation in the country. Most importantly, Islamabad projected itself as a key partner for the United States in South Asia to counter the threat and expanding footprint of China, Iran, Afghanistan and others. With this, Pakistan aimed to accomplish its illicit motives by rendering the space to deepen the US footprint in South Asia, which ultimately threatens the security, stability, peace and prosperity of the entire region. With increased American activity in South Asia and beyond, conflicts and geopolitical tensions are likely to escalate. Pakistan is heading down a pathway to such a catastrophe to channelise its terror ambitions.
On the other hand, India has strongly rejected any third-party mediation in the India-Pakistan conflict, which is purely bilateral in nature. India has firmly confirmed that the national security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and strategic autonomy is not at stake and cannot be compromised. Talks and diplomatic efforts cannot be channelled with a state that unequivocally supports and nurtures terrorism.
