TOI correspondent from Washington: US President Donald Trump announced a "full and immediate ceasefire" between India and Pakistan arising from what he claimed was "a long night of talks mediated by the United States," even as drone attacks appeared to continue at the border in what is at best a sketchy truce.
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump posted on social media on Saturday night after announcing a ceasefire that New Delhi alleged was violated by Pakistan almost immediately.
The purported ceasefire came after parleys initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio , who phoned key principals in Pakistan, including its army chief Asif Munir, its President Shahbaz Sharif , and its foreign minister Ishaq Dar, asking them to stand down before reaching out to his counterparts S.Jaishankar and Ajit Doval in New Delhi to do the same.
Rubio also announced that 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 added.
On the ground though, the guns -- or at least the drones -- did not fall silent, with India accusing Pakistan of violating the ceasefire even as it was announced with a drone attack on Srinagar confirmed by Omar Abdullah.
"This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up," he posted on X, even as arguments erupted in studios and social media about which country reached out to the US first or which country the US pressed to stand down and who folded first.
"Folks are going to get very hung up on whether the U.S. "mediated" an India-Pakistan ceasefire, or just helped bridge the gap and encourage the two to talk...I don't think it matters much. India was compelled to send a message after Pahalgam and that message was sent," said Jeff Smith, a Heritage Foundation analyst and an expert on the region.
"Terror will not be cost-free and future terror attacks will be met with a military response. The fact the guns have gone silent for now is a good thing," Smith added, hewing to the broad reading among regional experts that India had set new red lines in how it would respond to terrorist attacks.
Soon after the ceasefire announcement by US, India's EAM S Jaishankar maintained that New Delhi "has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on his part thanked President Trump "for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region."
"Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,' Sharif posted, adding that "Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability."
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump posted on social media on Saturday night after announcing a ceasefire that New Delhi alleged was violated by Pakistan almost immediately.
The purported ceasefire came after parleys initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio , who phoned key principals in Pakistan, including its army chief Asif Munir, its President Shahbaz Sharif , and its foreign minister Ishaq Dar, asking them to stand down before reaching out to his counterparts S.Jaishankar and Ajit Doval in New Delhi to do the same.
Rubio also announced that 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 added.
On the ground though, the guns -- or at least the drones -- did not fall silent, with India accusing Pakistan of violating the ceasefire even as it was announced with a drone attack on Srinagar confirmed by Omar Abdullah.
"This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up," he posted on X, even as arguments erupted in studios and social media about which country reached out to the US first or which country the US pressed to stand down and who folded first.
"Folks are going to get very hung up on whether the U.S. "mediated" an India-Pakistan ceasefire, or just helped bridge the gap and encourage the two to talk...I don't think it matters much. India was compelled to send a message after Pahalgam and that message was sent," said Jeff Smith, a Heritage Foundation analyst and an expert on the region.
"Terror will not be cost-free and future terror attacks will be met with a military response. The fact the guns have gone silent for now is a good thing," Smith added, hewing to the broad reading among regional experts that India had set new red lines in how it would respond to terrorist attacks.
Soon after the ceasefire announcement by US, India's EAM S Jaishankar maintained that New Delhi "has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on his part thanked President Trump "for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region."
"Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,' Sharif posted, adding that "Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability."
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