Diplomatic Correspondent :
India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after four days of intense cross-border hostilities that left dozens dead and raised fears of wider conflict. The breakthrough follows high-level diplomatic intervention by the United States.
US President Donald Trump announced the development early Saturday on social media platform X, stating: “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.”
The announcement was later confirmed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who revealed that over the preceding 48 hours, he and Vice President Vance had engaged in extensive discussions with senior Indian and Pakistani officials.
These included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and the national security advisers of both nations.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday night appreciated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for agreeing to a ceasefire with immediate effect and engaging in talks.
“I most sincerely commend Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan for agreeing to a ceasefire with immediate effect and to engage in talks,” he said in a message.
Prof Yunus expressed his deep appreciation to US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Rubio for their effective mediation.
Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the agreement via official statements on X. Jaishankar stated: “India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on the cessation of firing and military action.”
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s consistent position on regional peace, affirming, “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising its sovereignty.”
According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the ceasefire was formalised through a direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries at 3:35 p.m. local time. The ceasefire came into effect at 5 p.m., with a follow-up dialogue scheduled for 12 May.
The ceasefire comes after a series of military escalations, culminating in the early hours of Saturday when India launched missile strikes targeting key Pakistan Air Force (PAF) installations, including bases at Nur Khan (Chaklala), Murid (Chakwal), and Rafiqui (Shorkot).
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that while India initiated the strikes, all PAF assets remained intact.
In a press briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused India of deliberate escalation, describing its actions as “madness, aggression, and deceit,” and further alleged missile launches into Afghan territory and drone incursions.
He stated that the majority of Indian missiles were successfully intercepted by Pakistan’s air defence systems, preventing significant damage.
India, meanwhile, reported limited damage to personnel and equipment at four air force installations and confirmed retaliatory missile strikes on targets in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Indian authorities also reported civilian casualties, including five deaths in the Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir. The local police cited shelling and projectile strikes, with widespread panic emptying streets in Jammu and Amritsar.
Among the casualties was Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa, whose residence was struck by Pakistani shelling. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah publicly mourned the loss on social media.
The Indian military reported further hostilities, including the detection and neutralisation of armed Pakistani drones over Khasa Cantonment, Amritsar, at approximately 5 a.m.
Officials stated that “all hostile activities by Pakistan were effectively countered and responded to appropriately.”
Although tensions have somewhat subsided following the ceasefire, the situation remains fragile.
The recent escalation rekindled global concern over the potential for nuclear confrontation, particularly given Pakistan’s absence of a declared no-first-use policy. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Dar sought to allay these fears, stating: “If India stops here, then we will consider stopping here.”
He dismissed the likelihood of nuclear engagement as “a very distant possibility,” noting that Pakistan’s National Command Authority had neither met nor planned to convene.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that no meeting of Pakistan’s nuclear command was scheduled, countering speculation triggered by earlier military statements.
In a sign of de-escalation, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced the reopening of national airspace on Saturday. “Pakistan’s airspace has been fully reopened for all types of flights,” a PAA statement said.
The airspace had been closed to all Indian-registered aircraft since 24 April, following the surge in military activity. The closure had severely disrupted regional and international air travel, forcing Indian carriers to reroute flights to Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the UK via alternative paths.
The escalation caused widespread panic among civilian populations in both countries. Residents in border regions evacuated to safer areas, while major cities, including New Delhi-located over 650 kilometres from the frontier-took precautionary measures such as installing air raid sirens in high-rise buildings.
While the ceasefire agreement has eased immediate tensions, the international community continues to urge restraint and sustained dialogue. Diplomatic observers emphasise the need for both sides to build upon the ceasefire and address underlying issues to prevent future conflict.
