Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 12 (ANI): Calling the Indian Army 'best in the world,' Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday said that the message of cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan should have come from New Delhi, not from Washington.

'We are proud of our army that it will protect the sovereignty and integrity of India and if required, will surround the enemy in his own home and kill him...A powerful country like India, which has such a powerful army and has proved that today this army is the best in the world, the President of another country, America, tweeted that there has been an understanding between India and Pakistan. This message should have come from New Delhi, not from Washington. This is a painful statement of this era,' Tiwari told ANI.

He further said that a special session of Parliament should be called and a discussion should be held in the House.

'A session of the Parliament should be called and there should be a detailed discussion. There should be a discussion in our Parliament to salute those brave soldiers and to salute them,' he added.

Earlier today, the US State Department welcomed the understanding reached by India and Pakistan on the cessation of hostilities and praised the leadership on choosing he path of wisdom, prudence and statesmanship.

In the remarks made by the State Department, it was noted that US President along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to urge India and Pakistan to engage in direct communication and 'maintain a full ceasefire'.

It was also emphasised that America continues to offer its support to facilitate discussions between India and Pakistan so as to avert conflicts in future.

The State Department said, 'We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace. President Trump and Secretary Rubio continue to urge both countries to maintain a full ceasefire and engage in direct communication. The United States continues to offer its support in facilitating productive discussions to avert future conflict.'

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir after a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month in which 26 tourists were killed. (ANI)