India, Pak agree to ceasefire after long night of talks, Says President Trump

Washington DC, New Delhi, Islamabad: US President Donald Trump on Saturday said India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” after mediation by America, bringing a halt to three days of heavy exchange of fire. Confirming the development, India said the Pakistani DGMO called his Indian counterpart and agreed to a ceasefire from 5 pm.
It came on a day when India said Pakistan was moving its troops to forward areas along the International Border after the armed forces destroyed six air bases in the neighbouring country. The Indian action came after Pakistan targeted 26 military sites and civilian infrastructure in the early hours of Saturday.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Addressing the media, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, however, said the ceasefire was worked out directly between the two countries and did not mention any US mediation efforts. The next talks with Pakistan will happen on May 12.
“Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called the Indian DGMO 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 5 pm,” Misri said.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the government had always strived for “peace and security” in the region.
“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,” Dar tweeted.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been at the forefront in engaging with leaders of both nations, said he and JD Vance spoke with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shehbaz Sharif over the past 48 hours to de-escalate the situation.
“Over the past 48 hours, JD Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Asim Malik,” Rubio tweeted.
“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,” he further said.
However, India refuted Rubio and stated that there was “no decision” to hold any talks on any other issue at “any other place”.
The call from the Pakistan DGMO came on a day India targeted six of its air bases and destroyed drone launchpad sites.
The Indian retaliation came as Pakistan launched ‘Operation Bunyan-al-Marsoos’ (unbreakable wall), targeting 26 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat with drones and missiles.
This was the second consecutive day that Pakistan attacked India’s border states with a swarm of drones after the armed forces destroyed nine terror camps linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in an operation named “Sindoor”.
The operation, which left over 100 terrorists dead, was in response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, which left 25 tourists and a Kashmiri local dead.