India-Pak agree to ceasefire

New Delhi, May 10: After four days of skirmishes, India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire.”
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri while addressing the media here said, “Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called Indian DGMO at 15:35 hours earlier 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. Today, instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The Directors General of Military Operations will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours.”
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar wrote on X: “India and Pakistan have today 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.”
Just before the Foreign Secretary’s ceasefire announcement, President Trump posted on social media: “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,” he wrote.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted Washington’s intensive diplomatic efforts over the past two days. “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,” Rubio wrote on X.
“I am pleased to announce that the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues,” he added.
It may be recalled that the crisis began on May 7 when India launched strikes on “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, following an attack two weeks earlier on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, at Pahalgam in South Kashmir. (KNO)