[Islamabad] – Pakistan and India have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire, marking a major diplomatic breakthrough aimed at defusing days of escalating hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The announcement came on Saturday, after US President Donald Trump stated that Washington had facilitated late-night diplomatic contacts to de-escalate the crisis.
Trump wrote in his social media X account, “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.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the agreement between India and Pakistan to implement an immediate ceasefire and initiate dialogue on a broad range of issues at a neutral location.
Confirming the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the Director Generals of Military Operations from both countries held a conversation on Saturday and agreed to a complete ceasefire across land, air, and sea, effective the same day.
He added that both sides are scheduled to resume talks on May 12.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the upcoming discussions, but neither official disclosed the neutral venue for the peace talks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for playing a pivotal role in facilitating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
During a televised address to the nation on Saturday night, Sharif also acknowledged the efforts of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Nations Secretary-General, noting their valuable contributions to de-escalation.
For weeks, both nuclear-armed neighbors have exchanged accusations over drone strikes, missile attacks, and repeated violations of the Line of Control.
The recent spiraling followed a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which left 26 people dead. At the same time, New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the incident.
Pakistan strongly denied the accusation and expressed its readiness to participate in a transparent and credible investigation.
India escalated tensions with air raids in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Bahawalpur on May 6–7, reportedly killing 31 people.
In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian jets, including Rafales. Accusing India of further attacks on its military sites, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes under Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, targeting key Indian installations, including BrahMos missile depots and air bases in Pathankot, Udhampur, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan’s decision to convene an emergency meeting of its Nuclear Command Authority during its large-scale military response triggered global alarm.
In response, several countries stepped in to defuse the crisis. However, the role of the United States proved particularly pivotal.
Rubio personally reached out to Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, urging an immediate ceasefire and offering US support to facilitate dialogue. The ceasefire agreement was subsequently announced on Saturday.
The Media Line spoke with Abdul Basit, a veteran diplomat, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India, and a former spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the core of tensions between Pakistan and India is the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute. President Trump’s recent remarks on the issue are a commendable step.
“At the core of tensions between Pakistan and India is the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” Basit told The Media Line, “President Trump’s recent remarks on the issue are a commendable step.”
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He noted that Trump’s comments have triggered vehement reactions in India, where critics argue he has failed to achieve breakthroughs in other major conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war or the Gaza crisis. “Those criticisms may be valid,” Basit acknowledged, “but diplomacy often works in unpredictable ways—and it remains the art of the possible.”
Basit suggested that if Trump plays his cards right, his involvement could yield positive results. “India has traditionally opposed third-party mediation, but facilitation—not mediation—may offer a realistic path forward,” he explained.
He proposed that India, Pakistan, and the United States appoint special envoys to Jammu and Kashmir.
“This could be a significant step toward resolving a decades-old dispute that continues to threaten regional peace,” Basit said.
He added, “Whether Trump succeeds is uncertain—but if he does, the resolution of the Kashmir issue could even earn him a Nobel Prize.”
K.P. Fabian, India’s former ambassador to Italy, who also served as a permanent representative to the UN, told The Media Line that while there may be a general reluctance in India to credit President Trump, his role in facilitating the ceasefire was nonetheless significant.
“The ceasefire has been widely welcomed across the subcontinent,” he noted, “even though some seasoned observers believe India may have missed an opportunity to consolidate its position more strongly.”
He reflected on the deeper undercurrents shaping public sentiment: “This viewpoint, even among well-informed and educated individuals, reflects the complex historical baggage that both countries carry—consciously and unconsciously.”
Fabian added with a touch of introspection, “Perhaps what the subcontinent needs is the equivalent of a Freudian analysis—an honest reckoning with its inherited phobias and unresolved tensions.”
Concluding his remarks, Fabian said, “For lasting peace, Pakistan must move away from any perception of supporting non-state actors as part of its security strategy. In turn, India should resume full compliance with the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, as lower riparian states have a treaty-based right to water.”
Brigadier General (ret.) Asif Haroon Raja, a leading security and defense analyst based in Rawalpindi, told The Media Line that “during the recent conflict, Pakistan demonstrated a clear edge in technology, electronic warfare, cyber capabilities, satellite communications, and strategic preparedness.
He noted, “Islamabad asserted its right to self-defense while simultaneously calling for restraint.”
Raja claimed that “despite Pakistan’s gains, the ceasefire came at India’s request, as it faced mounting losses and sought US help to prevent further escalation. Washington intervened, fearing a potential nuclear clash.”
“This begs a serious question,” he asked pointedly. “Why did the world stay silent as India acted with blatant recklessness for weeks?”
India is unlikely to resolve the Kashmir issue through diplomacy or international mechanisms. Lasting change will require external pressure or fundamental shifts within India itself.
In response to a question from The Media Line, he said, “India is unlikely to resolve the Kashmir issue through diplomacy or international mechanisms. Lasting change will require external pressure or fundamental shifts within India itself.”
Raja concluded, “Given its current position of strength, Pakistan must approach negotiations firmly, demanding an end to cross-border interference, proxy warfare, and water hostilities. Only then can the region move toward lasting peace.”
Sajjad Azhar, a Rawalpindi-based political and security analyst, told The Media Line that “he sees little hope for lasting peace under the current ceasefire, given Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ideological stance.”
This is a temporary truce, not a path to permanent peace. India agreed to the ceasefire only after facing Pakistan’s strongest military response, which caught New Delhi off guard
“This is a temporary truce, not a path to permanent peace,” Azhar noted. “India agreed to the ceasefire only after facing Pakistan’s strongest military response, which caught New Delhi off guard.”
Azhar also pointed to the role of Trump, characterizing his mediation as business-driven.
“Trump sees economic potential in this calm. India is eyeing fifth-generation fighter jets like the F-35, and the US is supplying them under its own terms. India is fast becoming the largest market for American defense systems,” he explained.
This ceasefire might last two or three years, but then another Pahalgam-like incident could reignite tensions. The fundamental disputes over Kashmir and water remain unresolved.
According to Azhar, “This ceasefire might last two or three years, but then another Pahalgam-like incident could reignite tensions. The fundamental disputes over Kashmir and water remain unresolved.”
Dr. Raja Qaiser Ahmed, an associate professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, told The Media Line that “the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump represents a critical juncture in India-Pakistan relations.”
Ahmed noted that while the agreement offers a potential opening to address the Kashmir dispute, expectations should remain realistic.
He underlined that history shows temporary calm often fails to translate into lasting peace if the core territorial issues remain unresolved.
From a geopolitical standpoint, Ahmed said the latest standoff illustrates that, despite rising nationalism on both sides, external mediation—particularly from the United States—continues to play a vital role in South Asian crisis management.
Commenting on the planned military-to-military talks on May 12 at a neutral location, Ahmed said the move is encouraging.
However, he emphasized that genuine progress will depend on sustained diplomatic engagement beyond moments of crisis.
The latest truce is a tactical pause, not a strategic breakthrough, as neither side is ready to address Kashmir’s political status.
Dr. Shubhda Chaudhary, a New Delhi-based political analyst and founder of Middle East Insights, told The Media Line, “The latest truce is a tactical pause, not a strategic breakthrough, as neither side is ready to address Kashmir’s political status.”
Chaudhary underscored the need for a multifaceted approach to prevent future escalations, noting that India and Pakistan must establish regular high-level dialogue, shielded from domestic political pressures, to address core bilateral issues.
She further highlighted the importance of Track-II diplomacy, bringing together retired officials, academics, and civil society to build trust and explore creative solutions.
Chaudhary noted that creating a bilateral counterterrorism framework, with intelligence sharing and joint action against banned groups, is vital.
She also pointed to the need for transparent probes into incidents like the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and curbing inflammatory media narratives to build mutual trust.
Chaudhary noted that the standoff comes amid internal pressures: Pakistan faces economic woes and terrorism, while India prioritizes countering China. Both nations are under strain to avoid prolonged conflict that could deepen regional instability.
Crucially, Chaudhary underlined the need to prioritize the voices of civilians at the grassroots level, who bear the brunt of collateral damage.
She concluded that engaging local communities in Kashmir and fostering dialogue that reflects their aspirations can pave the way for a more inclusive path toward peace.