India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire mediated by the US, ending four days of hostilities between the 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,” US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday. The governments of both Asian nations will start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X.
The de-escalation comes hours after the Indian and Pakistani militaries targeted each others’ bases, fueling fears of an all-out war. World powers including China, Saudi Arabia, and the Group of Seven nations had urged the countries to engage in dialog after dozens of civilians on either side of the border were killed in a series of tit-for-tat attacks.
India had begun the military strikes on Wednesday, saying it was targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan responsible for an April 22 attack that killed 26 tourists in the Indian-administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir. Pakistan then claimed to have brought down five Indian planes — a claim New Delhi hasn’t yet addressed — and both sides launched drone and missile strikes into each other’s territory.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the ceasefire in a post on X, saying “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar echoed the confirmation, saying “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“Both sides will claim victory now to their own audiences,” said Manoj Joshi, fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. “What is the reality will be hard to know.”
Read More: What’s Behind the Enduring India-Pakistan Conflict?: QuickTake
Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operation called his Indian counterpart and it was agreed that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, in the air and sea, with effect from 5 p.m. Saturday, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a statement. The DGMOs will talk again at noon May 12, he added.
After announcement of the ceasefire, Pakistan reopened its airspace for all flights and all airports in the country are operating as normal, according to the nation’s airports authority.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
