He stated that the ceasefire agreement was arrived at directly following structured discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
Recounting the events surrounding the May 10, 2025 ceasefire, Chauhan said India initially struggled to establish contact with its Pakistani counterpart.
“How did this particular information get leaked out to the Americans that they tweeted before we could announce this?"
Ceasefire followed Operation SindoorChauhan's comments come in the context of Operation Sindoor, which India launched on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
The confrontation continued for several days, with India and Pakistan exchanging missile, drone and artillery strikes before the ceasefire was announced on May 10.
Anil Chauhan has questioned how the US knew about the India-Pakistan ceasefire before its official announcement, saying the information did not come from India and may have “leaked out from the other side” during Operation Sindoor
Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has firmly rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that Washington brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, clarifying that the understanding was reached strictly through direct bilateral channels between the military leadership of both nations.
Speaking on Tuesday evening at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) during a Vimarsh event focused on Operation Sindoor and its strategic aftermath, General Chauhan emphasised that third-party mediation played no part in arriving at the cessation of hostilities.
"I don't see the role of anyone else," Chauhan said, responding to queries regarding external mediation. He stated that the ceasefire agreement was arrived at directly following structured discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
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Chauhan also questioned how the US received information about the ceasefire before India and Pakistan officially announced it, suggesting that the details may have “leaked out from the other side”.
'How did this particular information get leaked?'
Recounting the events surrounding the May 10, 2025 ceasefire, Chauhan said India initially struggled to establish contact with its Pakistani counterpart. The two sides eventually agreed to stop hostilities at 5 pm.
“The DGMO said he is not available till about 3 o’clock… and then we decided at 5 o’clock," Chauhan said.
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He then questioned how Washington was able to announce the ceasefire before New Delhi and Islamabad had issued their own statements.
“How did this particular information get leaked out to the Americans that they tweeted before we could announce this?" he asked.
Chauhan ruled out the possibility that India had shared the information, saying, “I’m really sure it did not leak out from us… Somehow got leaked out from the other side, that’s what I feel."
US President Donald Trump was the first to publicly announce the ceasefire. In a post on Truth Social, he said India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire" following a “long night of talks mediated by the United States".
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Trump repeatedly claims credit
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for helping bring the India-Pakistan fighting to an end. He has said US pressure, including the threat of imposing higher tariffs, played a role in convincing both sides to halt hostilities.
His initial announcement came before India and Pakistan had publicly confirmed the ceasefire. The White House later said US officials had been in contact with senior officials from both countries during the preceding 48 hours.
India, however, has consistently maintained that the ceasefire was reached directly between the two countries and did not involve third-party mediation.
Ceasefire followed Operation Sindoor
Chauhan's comments come in the context of Operation Sindoor, which India launched on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India said the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The confrontation continued for several days, with India and Pakistan exchanging missile, drone and artillery strikes before the ceasefire was announced on May 10.
