India, Pakistan agree to ceasefire after DGMO-level talks
India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 pm on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has announced.
The truce, reportedly brokered by the United States, came after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries talked this afternoon. The next phase of talks will be held on May 12 at 12 pm.
Misry said Pakistan's Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) called Indian DGMO at 3.35 pm 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 1700 hours Indian Standard Time. Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.
Confirming the developments, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and that the country will continue to do so.
“India and Pakistan have worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action,” he tweeted.
The nuclear armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire four days after New Delhi launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military strike against the terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the massacre of tourists in Pahalgam on April 22.
The MEA announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed on social media that both New Delhi and Islamabad had agreed to “immediate ceasefire” following talks mediated by the United States.
"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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Trump tweeted.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also tweeted: “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”.
The active involvement of the US to bring about a ceasefire between the two warring nations has underlined the importance and enhanced the heft of the US in the South Asia region.
With inputs from Sanjib Kr Baruah
India