Indian-Origin US Official Ricky Gill Honored for India-Pakistan Ceasefire Role

• Indian-origin US official Ricky Gill received the National Security Council’s Distinguished Action Award.
• The award recognizes his role in ceasefire negotiations between India and Pakistan, presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Gill serves as Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the NSC.
• India maintains the ceasefire understanding was bilateral, not mediated by any third country, including the United States.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly stated India and Pakistan reached the agreement through established channels, rejecting third-party mediation.

Why It Matters: US honors Ricky Gill for India-Pakistan ceasefire role, while India asserts bilateral agreement.