India Pakistan ceasefire is now in effect after weeks of brutal conflict that brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of war. The May 10, 2025 agreement, brokered through urgent U.S. mediation, marks a critical pause in what had become the most dangerous military confrontation between the two countries in decades.
Tensions escalated following last month’s attack on tourists in India-controlled Kashmir.
The Associated Press · Updated: May 10, 2025
Pakistan and India have reached a ceasefire agreement after weeks of intense military clashes, marking a critical de-escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The deal, mediated through U.S.-led talks, aims to halt the most severe confrontation in decades.
Ceasefire Follows Escalating Conflict
The agreement comes after weeks of deadly exchanges, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by an April 22 attack on tourists in India-controlled Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the assault—an accusation Islamabad denies. Since then, dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, multiple explosions were reported in Srinagar and Jammu, two major cities in India-administered Kashmir, shortly after the deal was confirmed. Power outages followed, though no casualties were immediately reported.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, expressed frustration on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”
International Mediation and Reactions
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, stating:
“Pleased to announce India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence.”
The G7 nations—including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S., UK, and the EU—had earlier condemned the Kashmir attack, urging restraint.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar credited Saudi Arabia and Turkey for facilitating the deal, which took effect at 4:30 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that military leaders from both sides agreed to halt all land, air, and sea operations, with further discussions scheduled for Monday.
Hope and Uncertainty in the Region
While residents in Pakistan celebrated the ceasefire, those in Kashmir remained cautious.
- In Lahore, Mohammad Fateh called it “a big day for Pakistan,” praising the military’s response.
- In Islamabad, Zubaida Bibi, 45, expressed relief: “War brings nothing but suffering. We are happy that calm is returning. It feels like Eid to me.”
- In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Zulfikar Ali voiced hope for lasting peace: “For us, peace means survival. We’ve suffered enough.”
Airspace Reopens Amid Tensions
Pakistan fully reopened its airspace Saturday, allowing regular flight operations to resume. Earlier, India had targeted Pakistani airbases after Islamabad launched missiles at military and civilian sites in India’s Punjab state. Pakistan claimed it intercepted most strikes and retaliated.
Before the ceasefire, Foreign Minister Dar warned that Pakistan would only de-escalate if India halted attacks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged both nations, urging direct communication to avoid further miscalculations.
A Fragile Peace
While the ceasefire brings temporary relief, the India-Pakistan conflict remains volatile. Residents in Kashmir, long caught in the crossfire, await lasting stability. As freelance journalist Zafar Aafaq noted: “It’s very hard to predict how the situation will develop.”
The world watches closely, hoping diplomacy prevails over renewed hostilities.
