A ceasefire to be effective from 5 pm comes at the end of four days of increased rhetoric between India and Pakistan that shocked the world.
India followed suit just hours after the US President Donald Trump announced it on his Truth Social platform.
“Through hours of negotiations organized by the United States, I am delighted to advise you that a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE has been reached between India and Pakistan. Congrats to both nations for making excellent choices. Even I appreciate all interested in this issue”. Trump posted.
Here is a concise statement from the Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri: Douglas from India and Dr. Minas from Pakistan confirmed that both countries will cease all hostilities and military action on land, air and sea 5 pm.
He added, “On both sides steps have been taken so that this understanding gets implemented”. The Director General of Military operations will convene again therefore tomorrow at 1200 hrs.
India responded that the Pakistan DGMO called this afternoon and through the discussions, an understanding was reached.
Sources confirmed that there has been no decision to address issues other than ceasefire, in any other forum.
In a statement after the ceasefire, the government insist they are “fully prepared” and “ever-vigilant,” and further aggression from Pakistan will meet a “decisive response”.
The ceasefire agreement with Pakistan is conditional and India’s position on diplomatic steps, like suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, is not altered, sources have affirmed.
Before the ceasefire agreement, India warned “any act of terror will be viewed as an act of war”.
Following the informed ceasefire announcement, India’s words echoed its position that terrorism would be treated as synonymous with war.
According to the understanding that emerged amongst the countries Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that India would continue to hold to its uncompromising war against terrorism.
Following discussions, has India and Pakistan agreed to call off all military and firing exercises. India has not been swayed from its resolve to eliminate terrorism in all forms and expressions. He confirmed this in an post on X.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the ceasefire.
Pakistan and India have declared an urgent ceasefire to stop hostilities. Pakistan has always tried to propagate peace and security in the region while ensuring its sovereignty and territorial boundaries,” Mr Dar tweeted.
The tensions between India and Pakistan increased dramatically in April 22- th when a terrorist attack on the famous Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir, holiday resort commonly referred to as “mini Switzerland,” left 26 dead when an attack was made on tourists on their way to eateries, pony rides or picnics. India blamed Pakistan which is denied by Pakistan over the attack.
As a reaction to the attack in Pahalgam, and the attack on nine terror bases in Pakistan and PoK, India launched operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pakistan responded by launching several drone and other armament attacks, which India said it repelled with a “suitable response” by its armed forces.
Before agreeing to mediate, the US declared that it would not interfere with a dispute that is primarily of little interest to it.
Soon after the breakthrough was announced, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that he was in discussion with Vice President JD Vance to arrange for a ceasefire with Indian and Pakistani officials, including the leaders of the two countries.
In the past two days, @VP Vance and I have been in touch with top officials from India and Pakistan, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik. I am glad to report that the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, opening broad talks at a neutral location. Mr Rubio tweeted on X: “We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their wisdom, prudence and statesmanship in deciding to pursue peace“.
In commenting on the declaration, the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised that the calmer one remains the better it is for all.
The fact that India and Pakistan have agreed to stop hostilities is today’s high praise. I wish both countries would carry on with this progress. It is advantageous to everyone to stabilize the situation,” tweeted David Lammy.
“Firm, Uncompromising Stance Against Terrorism”: S Jaishankar On India-Pak Ceasefire
Within minutes after India announced a ceasefire after days of missile, drone, and artillery attacks, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar made a strong statement:” India has adamantly maintained a firm, unrelenting, fight against terrorism no matter what form it takes. We will maintain this position going forward.
The sentiment of Mr. Jaishankar’s remarks was echoed at the briefing on the ceasefire by the government. Our military and administration are always on high alert and committed to safeguarding and upkeeping the independence and unity of the country.
During the briefing, Commodore Raghu Nair announced that “We have shown strength in reaction to all the fall-outs on the part of Pakistan, and any step beyond this shall be met by a decisive and resolute counter”. We are at the ready to complete any operations to ensure the integrity and security of our country.
The first official pronouncement came from the Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri who revealed that during a phone call between the Director Generals of Military Operations at 3: 30 pm, India and Pakistan agreed to stop any military action on lands, in the air and on sea from 5 pm today. Track live updates here.
The Director Generals are to meet to discuss issues again this coming Monday at midday.
“Long Night Of Talks”
After Mr Misri’s remarks, President Donald Trump tweeted on the ceasefire and how it had been mediated by the US after a “long night of discussions”.
It came as a surprise seeing that from the preceding position of the US, one had a shift:<< U.S. involvement in the India-Pakistan conflict is initiated from the standpoint that it is mostly a domestic issue.
Yesterday, the US Vice President JD Vance, said, “Our role is to encourage everyone to de-escalate a bit, but we cannot get involved in a war that does not concern us and is beyond our control”.
America cannot teach Indians to give up their weapons. It is not for us to tell the Pakistanis to stop fighting. Therefore, we are to resolve this issue by diplomacy,” Vance said, who is famous for the view that the US should stick to its guns when it comes to foreign wars.
Still, India’s lead negotiator said there is no change in India’s position on the continued diplomatic efforts against Pakistan although there is ceasefire.
The day before the ceasefire started, the Indian air bases were bombed by Pakistan. India’s air bases were subjected to several rapid missile attacks on Saturday, and they suffered only mild damage to equipment, according to Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been strained since a terror attack was committed in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In the Pahalgam Valley, a beautiful region, 26 people, mostly tourists, killed by terrorists were killed on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Pakistan officially denied.
In retaliation, India came up with a lot of diplomatic reactions to Pakistan, but especially the suspension of Indus Waters Treaty stood out. As such, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, made a clear statement that India would punish for the terror incident. Six weeks after the attack India unleashed ‘Operation Sindoor’ and carried out air raids on nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir within two weeks of the attack. Twenty-six people most of them tourists were killed by terrorists in a scenic valley in Pahalgam on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for the attack a claim that was denied by Pakistan.
Pakistani forces retaliated against India’s retaliation with a series of drone and munitions strikes, which India denied they decisively repelled.
“Conditional” Ceasefire, No Change In India’s Position On Indus Treaty: Sources
The ceasefire with Pakistan is for as long as terms are involved and the diplomatic actions against Pakistan have remained untouched with the suspension of the Indus Waters Treat still in place, sources report.
The sources added that Pakistan was the one who initiated the ceasefire negotiations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that India’s position on counterterrorism will continue to be firm and unwavering.
Ministry of Defence at a press conference after the ceasefire made it clear that Indians stopped three large scale missile and drone attacks from Pakistan and badly cut its air defences such that Pakistan would no longer be able to protect its airspace.
The ministry reported that all the Pakistani provocations have resulted in a consistent reply, and no future acts to aggravate the situation will pass without a straight and decisive reaction.
US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan for the first time last Saturday evening, at 5.35 pm. The ceasefire, according to Mr Trump, was the result of protracted discussions assisted by the United States.
Within short notice after these announcements, Foreign Secretary Vikram Mesri declared during a press conference that Director General of Military Operations from Pakistan had had a phone call with his Indian counterpart at 3.35pm and ceasefire had been mutually agreed.
The Director General of Military Operations in Pakistan called his Indio counterpart at 1535 hours Indian Standard Time today. Both sides had been directed by them to stop all firing and military activity on the land, in the air and on the sea from 5 PM IST tonight reported Mr Misri, commenting that instructions issued to each side to implement the agreement.
According to his statement, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that military action has been stopped but reasserted that India’s uncompromising struggle against terrorist will continue.
India and Pakistan have now agreed to end military operations today. India has never lacked a principled stand against terrorism regardless of the form or face it takes. He said, “India would continue on this uncompromising fight against terrorism”.
Indus Action
After the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, India embarked on a chain of diplomatic action against Pakistan, with the suspension of the Indus Waters treaty leading the pack.
Dating back more than six decades, the agreement defined the game played out in determining water distribution from the Indus watershed. The Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers supplied India with approximately 33 MAF of water annually for unrestricted use whilst the larger share of 135 MAF were to be allocated to Pakistan from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab river.
Not only did India stop these activities but also began increasing the storage capabilities of two reservoirs in Kashmir, leading to lower water supply to Pakistan. The authorities are expected to hasten efforts with regard to building six projects that have been halted in the region.
Saturday sources said the suspension of the treaty would continue to be in place, while Pakistan responded to the action by calling it an “act of war,” and pointing out that the ceasefire was restricted to the military aspect only.
Even on Thursday, India continued to highlight Pakistan’s total forgetfulness of the treaty.
If you read the preamble of the treaty, the treaty was adopted out of goodwill and friendship. Mark those words: made with goodwill and friendship in view. Said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri: “It is India’s patience and tolerance – even after 65 years of attacks and provocations – that have only enabled us to honor our treaty obligations,”
Air Defences Hit
In response to India’s aerial raids on nine terror bases in Pakistan on Wednesday, which included Muridke and Bahawalpur and where Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed based their headquarters, the Pakistani military on Thursday evening initiated a number of drone and missile strikes against military and civilian targets which continued for another two nights.
In retaliation to these strikes, India protected itself by retaliating by knocking off at least one important air defence station in Lahore after the first wave and them launching targeted airstrikes on Pakistani military sites at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunia. The radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also hit.
Wing CommanderVyomaka Singh during the Ministry of Defence press conference following the ceasefire announcement declared, ‘‘Crucial Pakistani airbases such as Skardu, Sargodha, Jacobabad and Bholari have been severely bombed.’’ Furthermore, the effects caused to the Air Defence and the radar networks were a huge blow to Pakistan to protect its airspace from effacing. Over the Line of Control, huge and correct destruction of military installations and primary command centers have occurred.
Commodore Raghu R Nair said: “Whenever the Pakistan has miscalculated the situation it has always got a strong retaliation – the same will be in case if there is any future escalation”. We are consistently active and ready to undertake any operations necessary to protect nations’ interests.
The sources also pointed out that the Pakistan Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) had called his Indian counterpart, after which the ceasefire was agreed upon.
“Additionally, the US has formally acknowledged India’s revised war doctrine, under which any future terrorist attack will be treated as an act of war,” a source said.
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