Vikram Misri rejects reports of Pakistan Track II talks, says no official role

New Delhi: India has made it clear that it is not associated with any Track II engagement with Pakistan, with the foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, stating that such meetings are private initiatives and carry no official views from New Delhi. Addressing media queries during his visit to Victoria, Seychelles, the foreign secretary said the government does not attach any significance to such interactions.

“There’s nothing new, nothing special about these events. As far as we are concerned, these are private events organised by private parties,” Misri said.

Clarifying the government’s position, Misri said there has been no official participation or support from the Indian side. He also underlined that retired diplomats or former military officers who attend such meetings do so in their individual capacities and cannot speak on behalf of the government. Speaking to ANI, Misri said the India does not take cognizance of such events and does not attach any significance to them.

What the reports claimed

The remarks came after some media reports claimed that retired military officials, diplomats and political figures from India and Pakistan had met in Colombo on the sidelines of a regional security conference. The reports described the interaction as part of Track II diplomacy and suggested that unofficial contacts between the two countries had continued despite the absence of formal bilateral engagement.

India has now clarified that these meetings are neither organised nor backed by the Government of India.

What is Track II diplomacy?

Track II diplomacy is an informal dialogue between individuals such as former diplomats, military officers, scholars, experts, media persons and civil society members. They participate in the dialogue as private individuals, not as official representatives of their governments. This type of dialogue facilitates the exchange of information on various issues including regional security, conflict resolution and good relations between countries. Although the talks are unofficial and do not produce formal agreements, they can help build trust and support future official negotiations.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been put on hold following the terrorist attack at Pahalgam that took place in April 2025, during which 26 people died. As a result, India launched Operation Sindoor against the terrorist infrastructure in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. There has been no further communication or interaction between the two countries, apart from through the DGPO hotline.