India and Pakistan Agree to a Ceasefire

 

After a tense week of cross-border strikes and mounting fears of all-out war, India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire, diffusing a dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The breakthrough came following what U.S. President Donald Trump described as “a long night of talks,” with Pakistan’s Prime Minister praising Washington’s “proactive role” in securing the agreement.

The truce, announced late Friday evening, follows several days of intense military action along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region. Earlier this week, India launched air strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in retaliation for a deadly militant attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir last month. Over 20 Indian soldiers were killed in that assault, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based groups. Islamabad has strongly den

In a televised address, Pakistan’s Prime Minister said the United States had played a crucial role in averting a wider conflict. “We are thankful to our American friends for stepping in with urgency and wisdom. Their proactive diplomacy brought us back from the brink,” he said.

President Trump, whose administration had come under criticism for earlier disengagement in South Asia, was quick to take credit. “This is a result of intense diplomacy, and I’m proud the U.S. helped bring peace to a volatile situation,” he tweeted. Analysts suggest the President will likely frame the development as a significant foreign policy achievement as he continues to shape his legacy on the global stage.

While India confirmed it will adhere to the ceasefire, its military remains on alert. An Indian army spokesperson stated: “We are committed to the ceasefire understanding, but our forces remain vigilant to respond to any provocation.”

The Kashmir region, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has been a flashpoint since the partition of British India in 1947. The area has endured a violent insurgency for over three decades, with tens of thousands of people — including civilians, militants, and soldiers — killed in the conflict.

This latest flare-up once again underlined how quickly tensions can spiral in one of the world’s most militarized and sensitive regions. While the ceasefire has been welcomed across the globe, including by the United Nations and regional powers, observers remain cautious. Past agreements have often faltered under the weight of mistrust and recurring violence.

For now, the guns have fallen silent. But as both nations continue to stake their claims over Kashmir, the road to lasting peace remains as fragile — and as fraught — as ever.