Washington/New Delhi/Islamabad, May 10 (EFE).– India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the start of peace talks on a range of disputes following US-brokered negotiations.
The two sides thus halted a deadly military escalation in Kashmir that claimed nearly 100 lives and brought the nuclear-armed neighbors to the brink of war.
The announcement was made almost simultaneously by United States President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said they had held intensive overnight talks with top leaders from both countries.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social, using his trademark all-caps style to emphasize the announcement.
“Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Secretary Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif.
“I am pleased to announce the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” he said.
Rubio also spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, and the national security advisors of both countries — Ajit Doval for India and Asim Malik for Pakistan.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” Rubio added.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development. “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he posted on X.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also confirmed the truce, adding that the military commanders from the two sides have agreed to “stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea” from Saturday evening.
“Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding,” Misri told reporters. The military commanders will talk again on Monday.
The breakthrough came on a day when the two sides appeared to be inching closer to a full-scale war, fueling fears that their nuclear arsenals could be drawn into the conflict.
The violent escalation, the deadliest between India and Pakistan since the 1999 Kargil War, was triggered by a militant attack on Apr. 22 in the Pahalgam scenic town of Indian-istered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.
India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the assault, sparking retaliatory Indian strikes on May 7. Pakistan denied the allegations.
On Saturday, Pakistan said that 13 civilians had been killed and 56 injured overnight in areas of Kashmir it controls, following Indian cross-border shelling.
“Among the deceased are eight men, four women, and a child,” Mazhar Hussain, a spokesperson for the Pakistani-istered Kashmir government, told EFE. “Since the Indian attack, a total of 30 civilians have been martyred and 125 injured.”
Islamabad had earlier reported that Indian strikes on May 7, ostensibly targeting militant bases, and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) had resulted in 33 deaths and 57 injuries on the Pakistani side.
On the Indian side, at least 26 people have been killed in recent days, mostly due to cross-border fire. On Saturday, three more deaths were reported following a Pakistani airstrike.
The LoC, the de facto border dividing Kashmir, has been the site of relentless exchanges since the Pahalgam attack. In recent days, hostilities have also erupted along the international border.
Kashmir remains a flashpoint in the decades-old rivalry between India and Pakistan, dating back to the partition of British India in 1947.
Despite multiple wars and peace attempts, the Himalayan region continues to fuel tensions between the two nuclear powers. EFE
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