On Saturday morning, President Trump announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a “complete and immediate” ceasefire following a series of attacks on military bases.
“After extensive talks mediated by the US, we’re happy to share that both nations have come to this agreement,” he stated. “Congratulations to everyone involved for showing common sense. Thank you for addressing this critical issue.”
Yet, it’s important to note that this ceasefire comes with a cautionary note; more discussions are necessary.
Tensions have escalated between the two nuclear-armed nations, primarily due to retaliatory strikes following an attack in India-controlled Kashmir. In response to the violence, India conducted its own attack on Pakistan earlier this week.
On Saturday, Pakistan reported that India had targeted three of its air force bases. Islamabad retaliated by launching short-range missiles at Indian locations.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif of Pakistan described this as a “well-coordinated response” to what he called New Delhi’s “unprovoked attacks,” alleging that India struck the Noor Khan air base in Rawalpindi, resulting in civilian casualties.
“Our response today was significant; we achieved justice for innocent lives lost,” he remarked in a statement. “We take great pride in our military.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Mithri Singh pointed fingers at Pakistan, holding it accountable for the provocations that nearly brought both nations to armed conflict during a press briefing on Saturday.
Vyomika Singh, an Indian military commander, indicated that efforts were underway to maintain “non-escalation,” explaining that there were ongoing interactions from the Pakistani side.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated with both India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, urging them to pursue direct communication to prevent further misunderstandings.
Rubio also suggested that the US could assist in facilitating productive discussions to avert future conflicts, according to a statement from the State Department.
The G7 Foreign Ministers also expressed concerns, calling for a de-escalation of tensions.
This announcement followed Vice President Vance’s comments that suggested the US would not intervene in the event of further disputes, labeling such matters as “none of our business.”
