In a major breakthrough aimed at de-escalating heightened military tensions, India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire across all domains—land, air, and sea—effective from 5:00 PM IST on Saturday, May 10. The announcement was made by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a brief media interaction in New Delhi.
The decision followed a crucial phone conversation between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries earlier in the afternoon. The DGMO of Pakistan initiated the call at 3:35 PM IST, during which both sides agreed to halt all military actions and hostilities, bringing a temporary end to a period of intense cross-border confrontation and retaliatory strikes.
“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 IST Saturday,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The DGMOs will speak again on May 12 at 1200 hours to review the situation,” he added.
The ceasefire announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that India and Pakistan had reached a “full and immediate” agreement to cease hostilities. The agreement reportedly followed behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagements led by the United States in an effort to prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
As part of the agreement, Pakistan has reopened its airspace, which had been closed amid fears of continued Indian airstrikes. The closure had significantly affected civilian and military air traffic, with flights being rerouted and several sectors restricted.
The ceasefire brings a temporary halt to days of rising tension that saw major military operations, including India’s precision strikes on Pakistani military installations in retaliation for Pakistan’s attacks on 26 Indian locations. The conflict had escalated to include heavy cross-border shelling, air raids, and missile launches from both sides, resulting in damage to key installations and injuries to personnel.
The ceasefire is expected to ease regional tensions and offer both countries a window for diplomatic engagement. However, analysts caution that the situation remains fragile and will require sustained dialogue and mutual trust-building measures to avoid future flare-ups.
Foreign policy experts have welcomed the development, calling it a much-needed pause that can pave the way for broader peace efforts. However, they also emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict, particularly cross-border terrorism, which India has repeatedly cited as a major point of contention.
With DGMOs scheduled to resume dialogue on May 12, eyes will be on the developments that follow, as both nations navigate a delicate phase in their bilateral relationship.
