In a critical diplomatic breakthrough, India and Pakistan — two nuclear-armed rivals — agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire on Saturday, May 10, following weeks of escalating violence. The agreement, brokered by the Trump administration, was announced in dramatic fashion on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" President Trump posted Saturday afternoon, confirming the success of American-led mediation efforts.
Ceasefire Effective Immediately
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the ceasefire in a televised announcement on Geo News, adding that Saudi Arabia and Turkey had also played key roles in brokering the deal. On the social media platform X, Dar stated: “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also confirmed the deal, noting that top military officials from both sides had spoken and agreed to halt “all firing and military actions on land, and in the air and sea.” Misri said the ceasefire took effect at 5 p.m. local time, with additional military talks scheduled for Monday, May 12.
A Dangerous Standoff
The ceasefire brings an abrupt end — for now — to three weeks of dangerous escalation that began with a brutal April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in the Indian-administered Kashmir Valley. The assault, which killed 26 people, was immediately blamed by India on Pakistan-based militants — a charge Islamabad denies.
The violence quickly spiraled. By the end of April, Pakistan accused India of preparing for military action. On May 1, Indian missile strikes on Pakistani territory killed 26 and injured dozens more. Islamabad condemned the attacks as “an act of war.” Tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes continued through Saturday morning, with civilian areas and military sites hit on both sides.
Over 60 civilians have been killed in the crossfire, and large parts of Indian and Pakistani Kashmir have sustained heavy damage. Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented, “If the ceasefire had been reached two or three days earlier, we might have avoided the bloodshed and the loss of precious lives.”
U.S. Leads Diplomatic Push
President Trump’s administration played a direct and high-profile role in bringing the two sides to the negotiating table. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance were central to the 48-hour diplomatic push, holding emergency meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir were also active in the negotiations. The agreement marks a notable foreign policy achievement for the Trump White House, which has leaned heavily on direct diplomacy and public messaging.
The push reportedly began after Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, made a public plea on May 2, during an appearance on Fox News Digital. “It could be an important part of President Trump’s legacy to attend to this situation — not with a Band-Aid solution, but by addressing the core issue: the Kashmir dispute,” Sheikh said.
Next Steps: Broader Talks
Secretary Rubio confirmed that India and Pakistan will now enter into broader peace talks at a neutral location, with the goal of addressing long-standing disputes, particularly the status of Kashmir. “This is just the beginning,” Rubio said. “The ceasefire gives space for diplomacy, but real peace will require political courage on both sides.”
