India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire mediated by the US, ending four days of escalating 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 negotiations on a broad set of issues at a neutral site, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X.
The ceasefire comes 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.
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said in an X post that explosions were heard in the northern Indian state’s capital Srinagar just hours after both nations agreed to maintain a ceasefire.
Tensions first erupted on April 22, when gunmen killed 26 civilians — mainly tourists — in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region. India called the attack an act of terrorism and accused Pakistan of involvement, allegations Islamabad has denied.
This week, the situation escalated dramatically when India carried out an operation against what it described as terrorist camps inside Pakistan. The strikes on nine targets, which Pakistan’s army said killed 31 civilians, were the deepest breach of Pakistani territory by India since the 1971 war. Pakistan then said it shot 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, saying on X that “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.” In a subsequent press briefing, India’s military denied reports that its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system was hurt by Pakistan’s Chinese-made fighter jets, and said Indian forces destroyed several Pakistani assets.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar echoed the ceasefire confirmation, saying “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and…
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