US’s Rubio says India, Pakistan agreed ‘to start talks at a neutral site’

We also have a statement by Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, saying he is “pleased to announce” 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”.

In a post on social media, Rubio said over the past 48 hours, he and Vice President JD Vance engaged “with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik”.

He added: “We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace.”

Pakistan confirms India ceasefire ‘with immediate effect’

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed Pakistan’s ceasefire with India.

“Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect,” he said in a social media post.

The minister added: “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!”

‘A sigh of relief’ on both sides of the border after ceasefire announced

Kamal Hyder, Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan

After calls from the US and other friendly countries, we finally have some good news.

There would be a sigh of relief on both sides of the border because it is a high-stakes game.

The international community will have to pay attention to resolve the issues between these nuclear-armed countries.

If they do not solve the issue of Kashmir and do not put these two together at the negotiating table, we will be back to square one at some point in the future.

Indian Army briefing to signal course of action

Um-E-Kulsoom Shariff, Reporting from New Delhi, India

We are expecting a media briefing by the Indian Armed Forces some time during the evening.

What has happened and what’s playing out in terms of India’s course of action is expected to be discussed during that briefing.

It’s been a long day of activity in the corridors of power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier held a meeting with his defence minister and chiefs of staff.

We’ve also seen US Secretary of State Marco Rubio talking to officials, saying India and Pakistan need to de-escalate. India said its response so far has been measured and responsible.

The G7 has also urged the two countries to come in for direct talks and calling for restraint between the two nuclear neighbours.

Ceasefire agreement with India not partial: Pakistani foreign minister

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has told Geo TV that the deal with India is a full-fledged ceasefire understanding between the countries.

India and Pakistan have also activated military channels and hotlines following the deal, according to Dar.

‘Thank God, sense prevails’

Faras Ghani, Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan

The ceasefire announcement has been welcomed in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi.

“Thank God, sense prevails,” resident Abdul Shahid said at a tea stall, glued to a TV screen. “I think both sides achieved what they wanted – a show of strength and a warning to their rival over national security as well as Kashmir.

“I’d say Pakistan came out of this stronger, but end of the day, war would serve no purpose to either side.”

All eyes will now be on what follows the announcement and whether there will be a continuation of talks that brought about the ceasefire.

“I believe LoC will also calm down,” Pakistan’s broadcast journalist Talat Hussain said, referring to the Line of Control that divides Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“But now we need to demobilise, pull back forces and then what happens? We need to talk about the Indus Water Treaty, Pahalgam blame game; will India work on the claims over Pakistan’s involvement, among other things?”

India confirms ceasefire deal

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says the director-general of military operations of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart earlier this afternoon and an agreement was made.

“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all fighting and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 17:00 Indian Standard Time today (11:30 GMT),” he said in a short statement.

“Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The directors general of military operations will talk again on May 12 at 12:00.”

India’s foreign minister says understanding on stoppage of military action worked out

We also have the first statement by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister.

In a post on social media, he said “India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action.”

The minister added: “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.”

‘God has been kind’: Kashmiris react to India-Pakistan ceasefire

Following the announcement of a ceasefire agreed between India and Pakistan, residents of Indian-administered Kashmir expressed a sense of relief, with many praying for a lasting solution to the Kashmir conflict.

“I was extremely anxious about what was happening,” 25-year-old Rumaisa Jan, a resident of Srinagar who has her wedding scheduled next week, told Al Jazeera. “This is the wisest decision taken after so many lives have been lost. We want peace and an end to all these hostilities.”

Firdous Ahmad Sheikh, who runs a travel agency in the city, said he was frustrated by Kashmir being turned into a “battleground” by the two countries.

“My only fear is that things could escalate again in future. These countries must sit together and find a political solution to Kashmir once and for all. I pray our children don’t have to witness such times again.

“God has been kind to us for now.”

More from Pakistan’s foreign minister

Ishaq Dar has told Geo News that three dozen countries were involved in the active diplomacy efforts towards the ceasefire agreement.

The top diplomat also extended his gratitude to these countries, especially acknowledging efforts by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Pakistan has always worked for regional peace without compromising its sovereignty,” he said.

‘Essential’ India, Pakistan engage in consistent dialogue

Abid Hussain, Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan

Security analyst Sahar Khan has welcomed the ceasefire announcement but warned this past week has “fundamentally altered” the crisis escalation in South Asia due to the use of “emerging and disruptive technologies”.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Khan said it is essential that India and Pakistan reinstate all diplomats and engage in consistent dialogue that focuses on strengthening previous agreements, as well as containing threats to avoid another similar crisis.

“As this crisis hopefully wraps up, it doesn’t bode well for the next one, as both states will continue to modernise their conventional and nuclear arsenals,” Khan warned.

Pakistan opens airspace to all flights

The Pakistan Airports Authority says the country’s airspace has been fully restored for all flights.

The statement comes shortly after Pakistan and India agreed to a ceasefire deal after days of heavy fighting.

India and Pakistan can claim some degree of success: Analyst

The language being used by both India and Pakistan in the lead-up to the ceasefire showed that the two countries were leaning towards stopping the fighting, says military analyst Sean Bell.

“Both sides took some military action against each other and claimed some success, but also both have been hurt by this and will have (to) lick their wounds carefully,” he told Al Jazeera.

“I suspect India will be wondering how it managed to lose several fighter jets, and will be carefully reviewing Pakistan’s military capability. They did not expect to receive such a firm and robust response.”

Bell warned, however, that “if nothing changes, we are going to see a repeat of this at some stage in the future”.

He said finding an “elegant” solution allowed the two countries to step away from the precipice.

“Both sides have made their points. The international community was simply a facilitator to allow both sides to save face and claim a degree of success, but at least for now, ease tensions across that border region.”

India, Pakistan agree to ceasefire: What to know

India and Pakistan have confirmed reaching an agreement for an immediate ceasefire following international mediation.
    
The heads of military operations from both countries agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea during talks on Saturday afternoon.
    
They will speak again on May 12, 2025 according to India.
    
The ceasefire announcement has been welcomed with relief by residents in both countries and the areas in Kashmir that each country administers.
    
US secretary of state says India and Pakistan have also agreed to hold talks “on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.

Issue of water key in upcoming talks

Osama Bin Javaid, Reporting from Lahore, Pakistan

A Pakistani security official we have spoken to told us that Islamabad has proven to the world that it can take a hit, and hit back – both in terms of its conventional capabilities and nuclear deterrence.

It appears that what we have been seeing in the last 48 hours – extensive shelling on the Line of Control as well as use of heavy weapons, jets and drones – is going to simmer down.

We’ll have to wait and see how long the truce will hold on the ground and what the repercussions will be.

The countries have also agreed to a broader dialogue on various issues.

For the Pakistani side, it will include the very important issue of water because India has suspended its related treaty with Pakistan, which affects the livelihood and agriculture in this country.

India’s military rejects Pakistani claims

Here’s what spokespersons of the Indian army said in a news conference:

Since the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack, Indian army responses were measured and responsible.
    
Pakistani claim of destroying India’s S-400 and Brahmos missile bases is wrong and unfounded.
    
Pakistan’s claim of damaging India’s air bases is also wrong.
    
India dealt a huge blow to both land and air assets of Pakistan.
    
Indian forces significantly damaged Pakistani airbases at several places.
    
Pakistan also suffered heavy losses along the Line of Control, the de facto India-Pakistan border in Kashmir.

Broader Pakistan talks a reversal for India that could prove challenging: Analyst

Subir Sinha, director of the South Asian Institute at SOAS University of London, says the ceasefire is a welcome development, especially for the people of the border regions who have taken a lot of hits over the past few nights.

Looking ahead, Sinha told Al Jazeera that the broader bilateral talks, which the US said the two countries will have soon, promise to be a very challenging process as India had previously rejected such a development.

“One of the arguments about this so-called robust policy towards Pakistan that Modi’s government had adopted was that it was no longer possible to sit down and discuss a broad and long-term commitment to resolve issues,” Sinha told Al Jazeera.

“They basically substituted diplomacy with military strategy and using newly acquired arms as a show of strength.”

He added that this marks a reversal of the Indian government’s position, and could play out poorly with the right wing in India, whose members have been calling for attacking Pakistan.

The analyst said both the Indus Waters Treaty and the Simla Agreement, which India threatened to pull away from, will need to be rehabilitated and “to be looked [at] perhaps as bases for moving forward”.

Kashmir conflict: A timeline

India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in its entirety but rule over parts of it. Let’s look at key dates related to the dispute:

1948: At the end of first India-Pakistan war over Kashmir, the UN Security Council adopts Resolution 47, calling for a ceasefire, troop withdrawals and a referendum in the region. But disagreements between India and Pakistan prevented the process from moving forward.

1950: Kashmir is granted special status after the adoption of the Indian Constitution, ensuring significant autonomy for the region.

1989-1990: An armed separatist rebellion breaks out in Indian-administered Kashmir, fuelled by local resentment, to demand independence or a merger with Pakistan.

1999: After a decade of violence, India and Pakistan fight another war over Kashmir.

2019: India revokes the region’s special status, divides it into two federally controlled territories, and imposes a months-long lockdown that saw its local leaders put in jails.

2024: Regional elections held after a decade, with the National Conference party winning on the platform of restoring autonomy and statehood. But it continues to remain a popular demand.

India says ‘no decision’ to hold talks

In a statement on social media, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting says, “There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place.”

It comes after Rubio, the US secretary of state, said the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed “to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.

More from Indian armed forces

Speaking to reporters, Indian Navy Commodore Raghu R Nair says the Indian armed forces will adhere to the understanding reached on the ceasefire.

He added, however, that the military will “remain fully prepared, ever vigilant and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland”.

Nair said: “Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength. And every future escalation will invite a decisive response. We remain fully operationally ready to launch whatever operations may be required in defence of the nation.”

Meanwhile, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh claimed the country’s military succeeded in damaging Pakistani airbases in Skardu, Jacobabad and Bholari.

“In addition, a loss of AD (air defence) weapon system and radar made the defence of Pakistan airspace untenable,” she said.

Across the Line of Control, she said “excessive and precise damage” was done to military infrastructure and command and control centres.

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