New Delhi, May 10 (NVI) After intense fighting of over 3 days, India and Pakistan have reached a ceasefire agreement effective 5 PM IST today, marking a huge development for which the US claimed credit but New Delhi sought to differ.
The announcement about “full and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan was surprisingly made by US President Donald Trump at around 5.33 PM IST on his Truth Social handle and it was immediately confirmed by Pakistan.
India took some time to confirm the development.
Trump said the ceasefire was “mediated” by the United States but the Indian side claimed the agreement was reached directly between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The Indian side also sought to differ with the contention of US Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio that the two countries have agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.
Indian government sources said, “There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place.”
The military confrontation between the two countries, biggest since the 1971 war, was provoked by the Pakistan-supported terror attack of April 22 in Pahalgam.
To avenge that carnage, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ during the intervening night of May 6 and 7, hitting 9 terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir with missiles.
The 25-minute action resulted in the killing of an unspecified number of terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot (in Pakistani Punjab) and Muzaffarabad and Kotli (in PoJK).
In response, Pakistani military launched attacks starting the evening of May 7 at several places from Leh to Bhuj in Gujarat, even though it had been resorting to firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border for 12 nights till then.
“The stoppage of firing and military action between India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries. The Pak DGMO initiated the call this afternoon after which discussions took place and understanding reached,” said Indian sources.
The Indian Armed Forces said while adhering to the ceasefire agreement, they remain ever alert and would give a “decisive response” to “any future escalation” by Pakistan.
“While we adhere to the understanding, the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy will remain fully prepared and ever-vigilant and committed to defend the sovereignty and integrity of our motherland,” said Commodore Raghu R Nair here while addressing the media after the ceasefire announcement.
Commodore Nair, who appeared before the Media along with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, said, “Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength and every future escalation will invite a decisive response.”
Earlier, Trump, in his post on his Truth Social, said, “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!”
This was immediately followed by a post by Rubio on X: “Over the past 48 hours, @VP 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.
“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.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace.”
A post by Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on X followed as:
“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!”
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a brief statement to the media, said, “Pakistan’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO0 called Indian DGMO at 15.35 hours this afternoon. 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.”
He went on to add, “Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.”
The DGMOs will talk again on May 12 at 1200 hours, Misri said.
Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also posted on his X handle, “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.”
Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, while summing up the developments that took place since May 7, said, “Our operation was aimed exclusively at terrorist camps and facilities being used for anti-India activities.”
They said Pakistan “suffered very heavy and unstainable losses” over the past few days after its “unprovoked attack on our installations”.
“It has suffered losses, both on land and air,” they said while making the same statement, read out by Colonel Qureshi in Hindi and Wing Commander Singh in English.
“There has been an extensive damage to the crucial Pakistani Air bases, including Sargodha and Jacobabad,” they said.
“Across the LoC, extensive and precise damage to military infrastructure and command control centres and logistic installations have led to breakdown of Pakistani morale,” they said.
Colonel Qureshi said Pakistan has been “spreading fabricated allegations that Indian Armed forces targeted Mosques” and added, “Let us make this very clear here that India is a secular nation and the Indian Armed forces are a reflection of our Constitutional values. We hold every place of worship of all faiths in the highest regard.” (NVI)
