Trump announces India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire
Nations confirm agreeing to halt cross-border attacks after most serious military confrontation in decades
ISLAMABAD/JAMMU, India (Reuters) — US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” after a fourth day of strikes and counter-strikes against each other’s military installations.
Pakistan’s foreign minister also said both countries had agreed to a ceasefire “with immediate effect.” His Indian counterpart confirmed the deal as well.
“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,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The announcement came on a day when fears that the countries’ nuclear arsenals might come into play spiked as the Pakistani military said a top military and civil body overseeing its nuclear weapons would meet.
But the Pakistani defense minister later said no such meeting was scheduled.
At the same time, officials from both sides showed a willingness, for now, to take a step back following the day’s exchanges, while the civilian death toll on both sides of the border mounted to 66.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement followed extensive negotiations by him and Vice President JD Vance with Indian and Pakistani prime ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials.
“I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” Rubio said on X.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” he added.
The ceasefire deal follows weeks of clashes, missile and drone strikes across their borders that were triggered by a gun massacre of tourists last month that India blamed on Pakistan, which denied the charge.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the ceasefire on Geo News. He said Saudi Arabia and Turkey played an important role in facilitating the deal.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the heads of military operations from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon.
“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea. Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.” The top military officials would speak again on May 12, Misri added.
The deal has brought a swift conclusion to the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Tensions soared since an attack at a popular tourist site in India-controlled Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, mostly Indian Hindu tourists, on April 22.
The countries have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi.
The conflict caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier.
India closed 32 airports, while schools in areas close to the border on both sides were shuttered, affecting millions of children.
In recent years, India has been seen as a partner by Western powers to counter China’s rising influence. Pakistan is a US ally, although its importance has diminished since Washington’s 2021 withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan.
Earlier Saturday, Pakistan launched counterattacks against India after three of its air bases were struck overnight. Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told a briefing that there were “several high-speed missile attacks” on air bases, but “limited damage” to equipment.
Pakistan earlier accused India of targeting three of its bases with missiles — including one in Rawalpindi, some 10 kilometers (six miles) from the capital, Islamabad.
Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said 11 civilians were killed by Indian shelling overnight.
The Times of Israel Community.