Pakistan and India agreed Saturday to a full and instant ceasefire after days of lethal jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery assaults, the news surprisingly introduced by US President Donald Trump, who congratulated them on utilizing “common sense”.
Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the event minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social community, because the battle between the nuclear-armed neighbours gave the impression to be spiralling in the direction of a full-blown conflict.
“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,” Trump posted.
Indian international secretary Vikram Misri stated either side would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with impact from 5 pm (1130 GMT).
In an announcement on X, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq 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,” he added.
An Indian authorities supply advised AFP that the ceasefire had been labored out bilaterally.
“The stoppage of firing and military action between India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries,” the supply advised AFP, talking on situation of anonymity.
– Attacks and counter-attacks –
The ceasefire comes after 4 days of assaults and counter-attacks by either side that killed at the very least 60 folks and noticed 1000’s of civilians flee their houses alongside their border in addition to in divided Kashmir.
The preventing was touched off by an assault final month within the Indian-administered facet of Kashmir that killed 26 vacationers, largely Hindu males, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.
India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of finishing up the assault, however Islamabad has denied any involvement and referred to as for an unbiased probe.
Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist authorities revoked its restricted autonomy and took the state underneath direct rule from New Delhi.
The nations have fought a number of wars over the territory, which each declare in full however administer separate parts of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
– Positive step –
“The ceasefire is a positive step,” stated Bilal Shabbir an IT guide in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
“In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.”
In Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, resident Sukesh Khajuria was extra cautious.
“The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he stated.
Both sides pays a excessive worth economically for the battle.
Pakistani army sources claimed its forces had shot down at the very least 77 Israeli-made hi-tech drones — the particles of some was seen by AFP reporters — whereas Indian officers stated that they had destroyed tons of of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.
Pakistan additionally says it downed 5 Indian warplanes — together with three multi-million greenback French Rafale fighter jets — though New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.
Independent verification of claims by both facet has been troublesome.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the ceasefire happened after he and Vice-President JD Vance engaged with senior officers on either side.
“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 stated on X.
Vance posted on the identical platform: “My gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”
News of the ceasefire was welcomed in Britain, the Indian subcontinent’s former colonial grasp and residential to an enormous diaspora from each nations.
“Today’s ceasefire between India and Pakistan is hugely welcome,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X.
“I urge both parties to sustain this. De-escalation is in everybody’s interest.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr