Following days of escalating military actions, India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire, effective from 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The agreement was reached after a phone call between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. Pakistan's DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart at 3:35 PM IST, leading to the mutual decision to halt all firing and military action on land, air, and sea.
The ceasefire announcement has been largely welcomed by politicians and residents in both countries and the regions of Kashmir administered by each nation. Indian ministers and lawmakers have voiced their support for the cessation of hostilities, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasizing that "Peace is essential". Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal expressed relief that the ceasefire would prevent further loss of innocent lives but cautioned that conflict would persist if Pakistan became a "hotbed of terrorism".
The recent escalation in tensions followed a terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which resulted in multiple fatalities. India accused Pakistan of harboring the terrorist groups responsible for the attack, a charge Pakistan denied. In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with "Operation Bunyan Marsoos" after three of its airbases were targeted by Indian air-to-surface missiles. These events led to a dangerous cycle of strikes and counter-strikes, raising fears of a full-blown war between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The United States played a role in mediating the ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Truth Social, stating that it was the result of "a long night of talks mediated by the United States". U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that he and Vice President JD Vance had been in contact with senior Indian and Pakistani officials over the preceding 48 hours to facilitate the ceasefire.
Following the ceasefire agreement, Pakistan reopened its airspace, which had been closed due to the recent hostilities. Pakistan International Airlines announced that grounded international flights would resume at 10 PM local time.
While the immediate crisis appears to have abated, some government sources suggest that there are no plans for further talks on other issues at this time. However, top military officials from both sides are scheduled to hold discussions on Monday, May 12. These discussions could provide an opportunity to address outstanding concerns and build a foundation for a more lasting peace.
The international community has also reacted positively to the ceasefire. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed "all efforts to de-escalate the conflict". The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also expressed a positive view of the ceasefire, emphasizing that "the people of both the countries deserve peace for their progress and prosperity".
Despite the positive developments, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed that India would maintain its firm stance against terrorism. He also stated that the Indus Waters Treaty would remain in abeyance. These statements suggest that while India is committed to de-escalation, it remains vigilant about addressing its security concerns.
