On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a “complete and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan, a significant step towards reducing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The incident, reported by NBC News and The Indian Express, came after several days of intense military encounters following On April 22, 2025, a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 lives.
Trump’s mediation, which included direct talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, reached an agreement to halt all firing and military actions from 5 pm IST on May 10, marking a watershed moment in the volatile South Asian conflict. The ceasefire came after a rapid escalation. India launched “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, targeting nine alleged terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, for which New Delhi blamed Pakistan-backed militants.
Pakistan condemned the attacks as “acts of war” that caused civilian casualties, including a child, and responded with drone and missile attacks on Indian military sites. By 9 May, Pakistan’s military had targeted 26 locations in India, while India destroyed six Pakistani air bases, raising fears of a wider conflict. The two nuclear-capable countries exchanged threats, with Pakistan indicating a first-strike policy and India indicating a possible shift from its no-first-use doctrine.
Trump’s response evolved over the week. Initially, on 6 May, he called the situation “shameful” given the long history of India-Pakistan tensions and expressed hope for a quick resolution. By 8 May, he described the exchange as “tit for tat” and offered American assistance, saying, “If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll be there.”
The talks facilitated by Rubio with Modi, Sharif and military leaders focused on reducing tensions, while Trump’s personal relationship with Modi, who is a nationalist, and his neutral stance towards Pakistan facilitated the talks. The breakthrough came when Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations began talks with his Indian counterpart, leading to direct negotiations, which India clarified were not US-brokered talks, although Trump’s announcement came before India’s confirmation.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed dedication to peace while emphasizing sovereignty, stating on X, “Pakistan consistently seeks regional peace and stability.” The ceasefire was viewed as a pragmatic step.
However, the US’s eventual involvement was a far cry from its hands-off stance on April 27, when Trump said India and Pakistan would “work it out one way or another.” The ceasefire is in line with US interests, as India is a key partner against China’s influence, while Pakistan remains a strategic ally despite its diminished relevance following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The agreement has eased immediate concerns about nuclear escalation, though the Kashmir issue remains unresolved. Trump’s Truth Social post praised the ceasefire, applauding both countries for their “sound judgment and keen intelligence.” The region’s stability, as long as the ceasefire persists, depends on sustained talks, with Rubio pushing for broader negotiations at a neutral site—a proposal India has not yet accepted.