India and Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After US-Led Talks

India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire following US-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades. The deal follows weeks of clashes, missile and drone strikes across their borders that were triggered by a gun massacre of tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge. Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides.

The first word of the truce came from US President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the truce on Geo News, saying Saudi Arabia and Turkey played an important role in facilitating the deal. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke on Saturday afternoon, agreeing to stop all firing and military action on land, air, and sea. Instructions have been given on both sides to implement this understanding, and top military leaders will speak again on May 12.

The recent conflict saw India target Pakistani air bases early Saturday after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at military and civilian infrastructure in India's Punjab state. Pakistan intercepted most missiles and responded with retaliatory strikes, using medium-range Fateh missiles to hit an Indian missile storage facility and air bases in Pathankot and Udhampur.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials from both countries, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir. The two governments agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

The ceasefire has been welcomed by residents on both sides, with many expressing relief and joy at the restoration of peace. In Islamabad, Zubaida Bibi said, "War brings nothing but suffering. We are happy that calm is returning. It feels like Eid to me. We have won." Omar Abdullah, Indian-controlled Kashmir's top elected official, also welcomed the ceasefire, saying, “Had it happened two or three days earlier, we might have avoided the bloodshed and the loss of precious lives.”

The agreement marks a significant step towards de-escalating tensions between the two nations, which have been trading strikes and heavy cross-border fire for days. The ceasefire is expected to bring a swift end to the military escalation, bringing relief to civilians on both sides who have borne the brunt of the conflict.