New Delhi: In a huge development, India and Pakistan today agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire”, bringing to an end the intense and extensive three-day military confrontation between the two nuclear neighbours that had triggered global concerns.
The big announcement was suddenly and surprisingly made by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social handle and the news was immediately confirmed by Pakistan and then by India.
However, while Trump said the ceasefire was “mediated” by the United States, the Indian side maintained that the agreement to end the fighting with effect from 5 PM IST today was reached directly between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The Indian side also differed 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”.
The extensive military confrontation between the two countries, provoked by the Pakistan-supported terror attack of April 22 in Pahalgam, began during the intervening night of May 6 and 7 when Indian armed forces carried out precision aerial strikes at nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The 25-minute swift action, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, 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).
Following this action, the 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.
“There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place,” they asserted.
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, “India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 1700 hrs IST. This came following talks between the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan who called up his Indian counterpart at 15:35 hrs earlier this afternoon.”
He said, “It was agreed that both sides will stop firing in land, air and sea from 17.00 hours IST.”
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 unsustainable losses” over the past few days after its “unprovoked attack on our installations”.
“It has suffered losses, both on land and air,” they said, read out by Colonel Qureshi in Hindi and Wing Commander Singh in English.
“There has been 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 the 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.”
UNI
