Overview
- Speaking in Seychelles on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the government has no official participation in or support for Track‑2 or Track‑1.5 events and that Indian attendees speak only in their personal capacities.
- Several outlets reported informal India‑Pakistan discussions on the sidelines of the IISS South Asia Dialogue in Colombo and a separate event in Bangkok, naming retired officials, former diplomats and politicians as participants.
- Named Indian figures in coverage included Ram Madhav, ex‑Army chief Gen. M. M. Naravane and former diplomat Ruchi Ghanashyam, while reported Pakistani participants included Sajjad Haider Khan, Sherry Rehman and Major General Isfandiyar Pataudi.
- Ram Madhav denied taking part in any separate India‑Pakistan backchannel in Colombo and called the reports a mischaracterisation, reinforcing New Delhi’s line that such meetings were not official talks.
- The public rebuff comes against a long freeze in bilateral ties since the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and India’s May 2025 Operation Sindoor and means unofficial forums are less likely to feed ideas directly into Indian policy; readers should watch for Pakistan’s response and for whether future Track‑2 formats continue without official recognition.