US President Donald Trump has announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” following US-mediated talks. The statement was posted on his Truth Social account.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
There has been no official response from either the Indian or Pakistani governments to confirm or elaborate on the claim.
Recent Escalation
Trump’s announcement follows a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India launched a series of air strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which it said were targeted strikes on “terrorist infrastructure” in response to a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed 26 people.
India claimed the operations were “non-escalatory” and did not strike any Pakistani military targets. Pakistan rejected these claims, denied the existence of militant camps, and said the air strikes killed civilians. It reported shooting down five Indian fighter jets—an assertion India has not commented on.
The strikes triggered days of heavy cross-border artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in casualties on both sides. India reported at least 10 deaths and 32 injuries; Pakistan claimed 26 killed and 46 injured.
Civilian Impact and Regional Response
As tensions mounted, airspace closures affected civilian travel, with airports in northern India shut down temporarily. In Indian-administered Kashmir, locals reported fleeing border areas or taking shelter in bunkers. Hospitals received civilians wounded in shelling.
Eighteen-year-old Manzoor from Uri suffered an arm injury from a splinter during shelling. “Our house burnt down, but luckily we survived,” said Badardin Naik, who was hospitalized along with two family members after an artillery shell hit their home in Salamabad.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged calm and announced compensation: “Deeply pained by the loss of innocent lives due to recent shelling from Pakistan. My government is taking every possible measure to minimise the hardships of our people.”
Families of those killed will receive one million rupees ($11,700) as a “gesture of support and solidarity.”
International Reactions
The escalation prompted calls for restraint from world powers. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated: “We understand India’s desire to protect itself against the scourge of terrorism, but we obviously call on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avoid escalation and, of course, to protect civilians.”
Russia expressed “deep concern” over the situation and urged both sides to resolve differences through peaceful means. Pakistan also briefed the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad on what it called India’s “unprovoked violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.”
Outlook
While Trump’s announcement may indicate a diplomatic breakthrough, the lack of formal confirmation from Delhi or Islamabad casts uncertainty over the status of the ceasefire. Both countries have a history of fragile truces breaking down along the LoC.
With tensions still high and ground realities evolving, international observers are watching closely for signs of de-escalation or further confrontation.
