After nearly four days of cross-border military action, India and Pakistan on Saturday announced a sudden truce, restoring peace in the region.
While the ceasefire was being announced, sources said the government has decided that any future act of terror by Pakistan will be considered an act of war against India and will be responded to accordingly as India did post April 22 massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The armed forces, on their part, made it clear that they have not lowered the guard and any misadventure by Pakistan will be dealt with decisively.
Also, it appears there will be no change in decisions such as keeping Indus Water treaty in abeyance, complete stoppage of trade, scaling down diplomatic function and no visa for Pakistani nationals.
Announcing the truce, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed that Pakistan’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) called Indian DGMO at 15:35 hours earlier this afternoon.
“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time,” he said. Further instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.
“Two Directors General of Military Operations will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours,” Misri said.
To avenge death of innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed in the past.
Altogether, nine (9) sites of proscribed Pakistan based and nourished terror outfits -- Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, were targeted and dismantled, leading to deaths of around 100 terrorists, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told to politicians in all-party meeting held on May 8.
After this, military actions intensified by both India and Pakistan.
Sources said the truce was reached after a lot of back-room negotiations. In a social media post, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said: “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so”.
Echoing the sentiment, in a joint briefing of three forces, Commodore Ravi Nair said that while forces will be adhering to the understanding that has been reached today, but “We remain fully prepared and ever vigilant and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland. Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength and every future escalation will invite a decisive response.”
The armed forces remain fully operationally ready to launch whatever operations may be required in defence of the nation, he stressed.
Announcement by Trump
Ahead of the briefing by Foreign Secretary Misri, US President Donald Trump and his team made an announcement on social media.
In his post Trump said: “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. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
In a separate social media post, Trump’s colleague and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that Vice President J D Vance and he engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik.
“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. We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” he said.
Commenting on the development, Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar said: “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.