Indian-origin US official Ricky Gill receives NSC honour for role during India, Pakistan ceasefire

Indian-origin US official Ricky Gill has received the National Security Council’s Distinguished Action Award for his role in ceasefire negotiations between India and Pakistan this year. The award was presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a confirmed official citation.Gill currently serves as Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council (NSC).
US officials said the recognition was for Gill’s contribution to internal coordination and diplomatic outreach.
India’s standIndia has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding was not mediated by any third country, including the United States.

Senior Indian government figures, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, have on multiple occasions stated that India and Pakistan arrived at the ceasefire understanding bilaterally, through established military and diplomatic channels.

The government has also reiterated that New Delhi does not accept third-party mediation on issues relating to Pakistan.

Indian officials have previously said that the reaffirmation of the ceasefire followed direct communication between the two sides’ military leadership, in line with existing agreements.

Who is Ricky Gill

Gill currently oversees the India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and broader South and Central Asia portfolio at the NSC.

He served in the first Trump administration as Director for Russia and European Energy Security at the NSC, and earlier as Senior Advisor at the US State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.

After leaving government, Gill ran Gill Capital Group as its principal and general counsel. He has also advised TC Energy on European and Asian energy matters, including infrastructure projects with geopolitical implications.

Born in Lodi, New Jersey, Gill is the son of Jasbir and Param Gill. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley.