New Delhi/Washington | India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries teetering on the edge of full scale war.
The decision by India and Pakistan was first made public by US President Donald Trump in a surprise announcement in a social media post while claiming that the talks between the two sides were "mediated" by the United States after which "India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE."
Top government sources, however, clearly said that the outcome was the result of a direct engagement between the Indian and Pakistani sides and that Islamabad agreed to it with "no pre conditions, no post conditions and no links to other issues."
In a short announcement after Trump's remarks, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan agreed on the understanding during a call this afternoon.
"The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 1535 hours IST earlier today," Misri told the media at around 6 pm.
"It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time today," he said.
The foreign secretary said instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to the understanding and that the DGMOs of the two sides will talk again on May 12 at 1200 hours.
Trump announced the understanding in a post on Truth Social.
"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," he said.
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump added.
The understanding by India and Pakistan on stopping military actions came hours after their militaries targeted each other's installations in a phase that marked the most severe confrontation following India's 'Operation Sindoor' launched on May 7 targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir(PoK). The operation was launched in a strong retaliation to Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
The India-Pakistan decision came following diplomatic overdrive by the Group of Seven (G7) and several countries including the US and Saudi Arabia, urging both sides to deescalate the conflict.
The sources cited above said India's punitive measures announced against Pakistan including putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack will remain in place.
India announced the measures on April 23, a day after the terror attack.
Terrorism will not go unpunished and India's resolve on terrorism remains firm, the sources added.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said there was no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place.
This statement came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "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."
"Over the past 48 hours, Vice President Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, 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," he said.
In his reaction, Jaishankar said India and Pakistan have worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action.
"India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so."
Pakistan foreign minister Ishaq Dar while confirming the ceasefire said Islamabad has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Pakistani military's hostilities against India by targeting civilian areas and military installations came after 'Operation Sindoor' was launched. India also responded to the Pakistani actions firmly.
The fresh military offensives by the two sides since last night marked the most severe confrontations following India's May 7 action.
Earlier in the day, India said it had hit eight military installations in Pakistan in response to the neighbouring country's "provocative" action of targeting its defence infrastructure and civilian areas using drones, long-range weapons and fighter jets.
The Pakistani installations hit included a weapons depot and control centres, India's military said .
Pakistan is also moving its troops into forward areas, indicating an "offensive intent", to further escalate the situation, an Indian military spokesperson said. India, stressed Coloner Sofiya Qureshi, remains in a high state of operational readiness.
As fears of a larger military conflict loomed, Qureshi said Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistani military.
She was addressing a special press briefing along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Misri.
Misri said India has responded to the Pakistani military's "provocative" and "escalatory" actions in a measured manner and that Islamabad has resorted to a wanton campaign of targeting innocent people and civilian infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Five persons, including a senior J-K government official and a two-year-old girl, were killed as intense mortar shelling and drone strikes by Pakistan hit Jammu region early Saturday, officials said. With this, the death toll due to shelling in the recent days rose to 24.
Raj Kumar Thapa, Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, and his two staff members were seriously injured when an artillery shell hit his official residence in Rajouri town, the officials said.
They were rushed to the Government Medical College where Thapa succumbed to his injuries, they said.
Residents of Jammu city and other major towns of the division woke up to air raid sirens and deafening sounds of explosions around 5 am, while the border residents spent a sleepless night in the wake of intense shelling from across the border.
According to defence officials, Pakistan's blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continued along the western borders in the first half of the day.
“Pakistan’s blatant attempt to violate India’s sovereignty and endanger civilians is unacceptable. Indian Army will thwart all enemy designs,” they said.
New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting Saturday evening with top government functionaries, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, following the announcement that India and Pakistan have reached an understanding to stop military actions.
NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and all three service chiefs were among those who attended the meeting.
The directors general of military operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 pm on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
The brief announcement by the foreign secretary came shortly after US President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan have agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after talks mediated by the US.
The DGMO of Pakistan called the DGMO of India at 3.35 pm earlier this afternoon, Misri said.
Islamabad | Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday thanked the US leadership for arranging peace and hoped that it would mark a new beginning for the resolution of issues in the region.
The prime minister took to social media to react to the ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
“We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,” he said in a post on X.
He also thanked US “Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their valuable contributions for peace in South Asia”.
The prime minister also stated that it would mark a new phase in the region.
“Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability,” he said.
Earlier, Shehbaz’s elder brother and former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan was a “peace-loving” country, but also “knows how to defend itself”.
His comments came after US President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire.
Sharif took to social media to react to the ceasefire agreed between Pakistan and India after days of unrest and tension.
“Pakistan is a peace-loving country and prefers peace, but also knows how to defend itself,” he said in a post on X.
Sharif, the chief of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party, also congratulated the civil and military leadership.
“Thanks be to Allah Almighty for making Pakistan proud. I congratulate and congratulate the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Sindhu, and the armed forces of Pakistan,” he said.
Former foreign minister and Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan has consistently pursued dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to peace and “war, violence and aggression are never the answer”.
“Now that both India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire & dialogue, we welcome this as a victory for diplomacy. We appreciate the role of USA, KSA and all countries involved in achieving this historic milestone,” he said in a message on X.
“As a Pakistani, I could not be more proud of our people, our army and especially our Air Force,” he added.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Gohar Ali Khan said that it was good that peace was coming back to the region. He also said that the response given by Pakistan made the country proud.
“Our response forced India to come up with the white flag (peace),” he said while talking to Geo News.
In a post on X, Punjab province’s chief minister Maryam Nawaz said Prime Minister Shehbaz, Army chief General Munir, Pakistan Armed Forces, and her father, Nawaz Sharif, have “made the nation proud” and shown the world that Pakistan is in “safe and patriotic hands”.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar informed the nation about the ceasefire.
“Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!” he wrote on X.
Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan saying it was better late than never.
"I welcome from the depths of my heart the announcement made by Government of India spokesperson about restoration of ceasefire between India and Pakistan," Abdullah told reporters at his residence.
"Better late than never but had this ceasefire come two or three days earlier, perhaps the bloodshed we saw and the precious lives we lost, would have been safe," he added.
Abdullah said the DGMO of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart and they agreed to establish ceasefire again in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
"It is now the duty of J-K government to provide relief and compensation to those who have suffered during this period. We have announced compensation for the loss of precious lives. Now we will have to compensate those who have been injured as well," he added.
The chief minister said there has been lot of devastation caused by cross border shelling and attacks in Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Tangdhar and other border areas.
"Now we also hope that we can resume the Hajj flights as we were not able to send the pilgrims to Hajj due to closure of airport," he said.
New York/Washington | US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday expressed gratitude to leaders of India and Pakistan for their “hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”
The US-brokered ceasefire came hours after India and Pakistan attacked each other’s military facilities, dangerously escalating the ongoing conflict.
“Great work from the President’s team, especially Secretary Rubio. And my gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire,” Vance said in a post on X.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed “all efforts to de-escalate the conflict”, as India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire.
Minutes after Trump's post on Truth Social, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that over the past 48 hours, Vance and he engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, “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 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,” he said.
United Nations | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed “all efforts to de-escalate the conflict”, as India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire.
“We are monitoring but we welcome all efforts to de-escalate the conflict,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told PTI here.
The US-brokered ceasefire came hours after India and Pakistan attacked each other’s military facilities, dangerously escalating the ongoing conflict.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that over the past 48 hours, Vice President J D Vance and he engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, “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 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,” he said.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” Rubio said.
“India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a social media post.
The announcement came days after India carried out Operation Sindoor striking nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam attack. Since the operation, Pakistan targetted various Indian military installations without success.
New Delhi | With India and Pakistan agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, there is now a need more than ever before for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair an all-party meeting and take political parties into confidence, the Congress said on Saturday.
The opposition party also demanded that the government call a special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the past 18 days.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, "In view of the unprecedented announcements from Washington DC, there is now a need, more than ever before, for -- the prime minister to chair an all-party meeting and take political parties into confidence."
There is also now a need, more than ever before, for a special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the last 18 days, beginning with the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and the way forward, and to demonstrate a collective resolve, he said.
The directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 pm, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has announced.
The brief announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after talks mediated by the US.
The US-brokered ceasefire came hours after the militaries of India and Pakistan attacked each other's facilities, dangerously escalating the standoff.
Trump's announcement had come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir.
Rubio also made a similar statement on X.