US President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on Saturday, bringing a halt to days of intense cross-border hostilities that had pushed the region to the brink of wider conflict. The agreement, brokered through U.S.-led mediation, was hailed as a critical step toward restoring peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“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,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “This is a tremendous victory for peace and stability. Both nations have shown great wisdom in choosing dialogue over destruction.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the ceasefire, stating on X, “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan remains committed to peace and security in the region while safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided further details, highlighting the diplomatic marathon that led to the agreement. “Over the past 48 hours, VP Vance and I 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 posted on X. “The Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to commence talks on a broad range of issues at a neutral site. We applaud Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their statesmanship in pursuing peace.”
The ceasefire follows a volatile week of violence sparked by India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to a deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. Pakistan’s retaliatory drone strikes and shelling claimed lives, including a senior government official in Rajouri, and injured civilians in Punjab’s Ferozepur. Red alerts were issued in Bathinda, Amritsar, and Jalandhar, with schools, airports, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) suspended amid the crisis.
The agreement commits both nations to cease all hostilities, including cross-border shelling and drone incursions, and to initiate dialogue on contentious issues, such as Kashmir, at a neutral venue. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to comment officially, sources indicate Prime Minister Modi emphasized India’s commitment to peace without compromising national security during the talks.
The breakthrough has been met with relief in border communities battered by blackouts, sirens, and evacuations. “We just want to live without fear,” said a resident of Amritsar, where the Golden Temple vicinity had been on high alert. Saudi Arabia and the G7 have welcomed the ceasefire, with the latter urging sustained efforts to address root causes of the conflict.
As both nations prepare for talks, the ceasefire offers a fragile but vital opportunity to de-escalate tensions. Analysts warn that the success of the dialogue will depend on mutual trust and concrete steps toward resolving longstanding disputes. For now, the region breathes a cautious sigh of relief as the sounds of war give way to hopes for peace.
