Najam Sethi appeared on India Today to address Pakistan’s mediation in the US-Iran peace process, where he shut down attempts by Indian host Rajdeep Sardesai to pivot the conversation toward cross-border terrorism.

The exchange began with Sardesai questioning the authority behind Pakistan’s foreign policy, asking whether Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif or Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir make the final decisions. 

Sethi termed the relationship a “joint platform,” explaining that the civilian and military leadership work in total synchronization. He pointed out that while the PM visited Turkey and the Deputy Foreign Minister traveled to Saudi Arabia, the Field Marshal engaged with leadership in Iran to facilitate talks.

The conversation took a turn when Sardesai attempted to pivot towards FATF watch list. Sethi refused to engage with the narrative, calling it the “long past”. He told Sardesai that the world no longer believes the stories coming out of New Delhi.

Sardesai then brought up New Delhi’s traditional concerns regarding the FATF watch list. 

Sethi stated that the current regime remains focused on Pakistan’s economic and diplomatic stability. He told Sardesai that the world no longer buys India’s narrative, specifically referencing a lack of international sympathy for India’s recent claims regarding Operation Sindoor.

“Let’s not get into India-Pakistan in this discussion,” Sethi remarked, steering the focus back to Pakistan’s status as a recognized player in Middle Eastern diplomacy. He maintained that regardless of whether the talks reach a final success, Pakistan has established itself as a necessary interlocutor for global powers.

Sardesai eventually conceded that Pakistan is “far more visible on the global stage” than it has been in recent years.


The clip triggered a massive wave of reactions across X, with users highlighting Sethi’s refusal to let the conversation be derailed.

“Sethi hit the nail on the head. Beautiful,” one user wrote. Another commenter stated that “Sethi saheb always rocked in Godi media” while the journalist appeared “clueless”, the sentiment remained consistent, with viewers claiming the Indian narrative is “in freefall” as Pakistan gains visibility on the global stage.

Observers noted that Sethi did not need to raise his voice to dismantle the arguments presented. 

Another viewer commented that Sethi provided a “masterclass in clarity,” suggesting that India remains stuck in old talking points while the diplomatic reality on the ground has shifted.