U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Pakistan and India have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire, adding Washington had mediated this.
In a posting on his TruthSocial platform, Trump said the talks progressed overnight. “I am pleased to announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire,” he wrote. “Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he added.
The ceasefire comes about after both countries had expressed a desire to de-escalate—provided the other country committed to it as well. Early this morning, India had fired missiles on three Pakistani airbases, prompting Pakistan to retaliate with Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos, targeting various Indian airbases, supply depots and munitions storage. With fears mounting of the standoff escalating into a full-scale war, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Pakistan Army chief Gen. Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, urging both countries to de-escalate the situation.
The U.S. official had also offered U.S. support in facilitating “productive discussions to avert future disputes.”
In a posting on X, Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials over the past 48 hours. He specifically named Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisers 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,” he added.
“Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect,” announced Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!”
In a brief statement, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also confirmed the ceasefire. “The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called [Indian counterpart] at 15:35 earlier this afternoon,” he said. “It was agreed that both sides will stop firing in land, air and sea from 17:00 IST,” he said, adding the two officials would talk again on May 12 (Monday).
Last month, terrorists killed 26 people in India-held Kashmir’s Pahalgam, with Delhi blaming Pakistan without evidence. Subsequently, India unilaterally held the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and severed diplomatic ties with Pakistan, with Islamabad retaliating by threatening to put bilateral agreements in abeyance and closing its airspace for Indian flights.
The situation had spiraled further after India attacked civilian infrastructure in various cities of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan, raising fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed nations. In recent days, several countries have urged both countries to resolve their dispute through dialogue.