A political storm erupted on 28 May 2025 after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had sought the intervention of then-US President Ronald Reagan in India-Pakistan negotiations—despite the 1972 Shimla Agreement which mandates that all such disputes be resolved bilaterally.
Dubey posted on his X handle, an alleged letter from Reagan to Rajiv Gandhi dated 25 March 1987. According to Dubey, the letter was delivered by the US Ambassador to India and reveals that Gandhi had requested US experts to be present during bilateral discussions with Pakistan concerning cross-border narcotics smuggling.
“It is not easy to be Gandhi This letter is in reply to a letter written by US President Ronald Reagan to the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. When it was decided under the 1972 Shimla Agreement that any dispute between India and Pakistan would be negotiated only between the two countries and there would be no mediator, why did the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ask for US President Reagan’s help in negotiating with Pakistan?” Dubey asked in his post.
गांधी होना आसान नहीं
यह पत्र अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति रोनाल्ड रेगन का तत्कालीन भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री राजीव गांधी जी के द्वारा लिखे पत्र के उत्तर में है ।1972 के शिमला समझौते के तहत जब यह तय हो गया कि भारत पाकिस्तान के बीच किसी विवाद पर बातचीत केवल दोनों देशों के बीच होगी,कोई मध्यस्थ… pic.twitter.com/kJLSF75TaT— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) May 28, 2025
He claimed the letter contradicts India’s long-standing position of keeping third-party involvement out of India-Pakistan matters.
The contents of Reagan’s letter, as shared by Dubey, indicated the US President’s willingness to support any initiative jointly agreed upon by India and Pakistan. Reagan expressed readiness to assist with expertise should both nations seek help in addressing narcotics issues.
The revelation comes amid renewed scrutiny of third-party involvement in India-Pakistan affairs, particularly following the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor.
The row intensified when Dubey also referenced a declassified 1971 US intelligence cable, claiming that Indira Gandhi, under pressure from the United States, accepted a United Nations ceasefire proposal during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Dubey questioned whether India had compromised on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and securing heritage sites like Kartarpur Gurdwara in favor of prioritizing the creation of Bangladesh.
“Iron Lady Indira Ji and her father Nehru Ji After the illegal occupation of Kashmir by Pakistan in 1948, again under the pressure of mediation by America and Britain, continuous meetings were held between 1962 and 1964 between the minister of Indian government Swaran Singh ji and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Read this paper carefully, India had already decided to give back to Pakistan the territory forcibly occupied by Pakistan in Poonch and Uri. The matter did not stop at this, the entire Neelam and Kishanganga valley in Gurez was made the international border along with the Line of Control. The only reason for India’s problems today is the hand of Congress? With whom?” Dubey said in a post on 26 May 2025.
The Congress hit back strongly. Party leader Udit Raj dismissed Dubey’s interpretation, accusing him of misreading the Reagan letter.
आयरन लेडी इंदिरा जी और उनके पिताजी नेहरु जी
कश्मीर के अवैध क़ब्ज़े पाकिस्तान के द्वारा 1948 के बाद दुबारा मध्यस्थ अमेरिका और ब्रिटेन के दबाव में भारत सरकार के मंत्री स्वर्ण सिंह जी व ज़ुल्फ़िकार अली भुट्टो की लगातार बैठक 1962 से 1964 के बीच हुई,इस काग़ज़ को गौर से पढ़िए ,भारत ने… pic.twitter.com/wuJhbOAROW— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) May 26, 2025
The exchange comes as Congress also took a swipe at External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Jaishankar for remaining “silent” on recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who referenced “US mediation” and a “neutral site” for India-Pakistan talks.
The Ministry of External Affairs refuted Rubio’s claims, reiterating India’s consistent policy that all matters with Pakistan, especially those concerning Jammu and Kashmir, are strictly bilateral and do not warrant third-party mediation.
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