India and Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After Intense Cross-Border Escalation
- Victor Nwoko
- May 10, 2025
- 3 min read
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD — India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement on Saturday following U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to halt the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
The breakthrough comes after weeks of intense clashes triggered by a deadly gun attack on April 22 that killed 26 Indian Hindu tourists in Kashmir, an attack India blames on Pakistan. Islamabad denies any involvement. The cross-border violence, which included missile and drone strikes, claimed dozens of civilian lives on both sides and brought the two nations to the brink of war.
The first confirmation of the truce came when U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire,” praising both nations for choosing diplomacy over conflict.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the ceasefire, stating that Saudi Arabia and Turkey had played a significant role in facilitating the agreement. His Indian counterpart, Vikram Misri, reported that top military officials from both countries held talks on Saturday and agreed to halt all military operations—on land, in the air, and at sea. The two sides plan to resume discussions on May 12.
Prior to the ceasefire, India announced it had carried out strikes on Pakistani air bases after Islamabad launched a volley of high-speed missiles targeting both military and civilian sites in Punjab state. Pakistan claimed it intercepted most of the missiles and responded with its own retaliatory strikes.
India accused Pakistan of targeting medical centers and schools near three air bases in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Indian Col. Sofiya Qureshi stated that Pakistan’s actions were met with a “befitting reply,” while Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said India would not escalate further unless provoked, though she warned of Pakistani ground forces mobilizing near forward positions.
In retaliation, Pakistan said it launched medium-range Fateh missiles that struck an Indian missile depot and air bases in Pathankot and Udhampur. Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif confirmed that Pakistani air force assets remained intact.
The situation deteriorated rapidly after the April 22 massacre in Kashmir. India alleged Pakistani support for the attack and launched missiles at strategic sites including Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, Murid base in Chakwal, and Rafiqui base in Jhang. Pakistanis in cities like Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi celebrated the retaliatory strikes.
Residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir reported hearing loud explosions, particularly in Srinagar, Jammu, and Udhampur. Shesh Paul Vaid, a former top police official in Jammu, described the blasts as more intense than previous drone attacks and believed military sites were targeted.
Srinagar resident Mohammed Yasin said the explosions shook his home, frightening his children. “I was already awake, but the explosions jolted my kids out of their sleep. They started crying,” he said.
Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, observed that the confrontation had escalated into a near-war. “It’s become a remorseless race for military one-upmanship with no apparent strategic end goals from either side,” he said.
The violence resulted in widespread destruction in Kashmir. In Indian-administered areas, powerful blasts destroyed homes, while Pakistani-administered Kashmir saw rescuers digging through rubble left by overnight shelling.
As the ceasefire takes effect, both nations remain on high alert, and the world watches closely, hoping the diplomatic breakthrough marks a lasting de-escalation in one of the most volatile regions on earth.
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