India-Pakistan Agree to Full Ceasefire Following US Mediation
| 2025-05-10
New Delhi. (MEA)
India and Pakistan have agreed to a full ceasefire on land, air and sea from 5pm IST, following US-brokered talks amid escalating tensions.
The agreement was announced by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who confirmed that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan contacted his Indian counterpart at 15:35 hours on Saturday. Both sides agreed to enforce a complete cessation of military actions starting two hours later.
"Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. They will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours," said Misri.
The development came minutes after United States President Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social that the two nuclear-armed neighbours had reached a "full and immediate ceasefire" after overnight talks facilitated by the US government.
“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” President Trump said in his message.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, there are no further diplomatic talks scheduled at this time beyond the military communication agreed for 12 May. However, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reiterated India’s firm stance on security.
“India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so,” Jaishankar wrote on social media.
Recent Escalation and Military Strikes
The ceasefire follows a significant rise in tensions between the two countries, triggered by a deadly terror attack in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April. The attack in the town of Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 individuals, most of them tourists, and was widely attributed to Pakistan-based militant groups.
In response, the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor, involving precision strikes against what officials described as "terror infrastructure" located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The Indian Air Force reportedly targeted nine locations used by banned militant organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. These included the Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, the Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad, and the Markaz Taiba in Muridke.
India stated that the strikes were aimed at preventing future attacks and were conducted with precision to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan did not publicly confirm or deny the strikes but accused India of violating its sovereignty and responded with its own military activity, including reported shelling across the Line of Control.
Context:
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from British rule in 1947, and military skirmishes along the Line of Control in Kashmir are frequent. Despite a ceasefire agreement in 2003, violations have been common in recent years, especially following high-profile terror attacks in India allegedly traced to Pakistan-based groups.
The most recent ceasefire agreement, brokered with international support, is a rare moment of de-escalation following one of the most severe spikes in hostilities since the 2019 Pulwama attack and Balakot airstrikes.
Diplomatic analysts suggest that while the immediate threat of conflict may have eased, the underlying tensions—especially concerning cross-border militancy—remain unresolved.
It is currently unclear whether this ceasefire will pave the way for broader diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad. However, the agreement marks a pause in hostilities at a critical juncture and may allow space for backchannel diplomacy to continue.
Conclusion:
With both militaries ordered to cease fire and plans in place for further communication, the agreement offers a moment of calm amid months of heightened hostilities. The effectiveness and longevity of the ceasefire will depend on political will and the commitment of both nations to prevent further escalation.
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