New Delhi: After a tense four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan with drone and missile strikes, US President Donald Trump announced today (May 10) that the two countries had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire.”His announcement – echoed soon after by officials in New Delhi and Islamabad – generated relief in most but also consternation in some quarters here. But as night fell in the subcontinent, explosions heard across the Kashmir valley highlighted the precarity of this US-mediated peace effort.It was around 7.55 am eastern time in the United States that Trump posted on Truth Social that “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”. He congratulated both countries on using “Common Sense and Great Intelligence”.Islamabad was quick to confirm the ceasefire, with Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister M. Ishaq Dar posting on X that the neighbours had “agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect”. In New Delhi, foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who had been helming the media briefings for ‘Operation Sindoor’, read out a short statement without taking any questions. He confirmed that there would be a cessation of military operations from 5 pm.The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 1535 hours IST earlier today.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 Indian Standard Time today.Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to the understanding.The Director Generals of Military Operations will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours.Later, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar posted that the two countries had “worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action.” He reiterated that “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.”Notably, neither Jaishankar’s statement nor India’s earlier announcement by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged any US role in brokering the ceasefire. Washington, however, described it plainly as a “US-brokered ceasefire” in a State Department release.While there is no doubt that the technical mechanics of the ceasefire were indeed worked out by the two DGMOs without external mediation, the fact that they spoke and entered into negotiations was clearly the product of a larger diplomatic and political process pushed by Washington – a process in which the leaders of India and Pakistan agreed to set aside the wider military goals they had from the continuing conflict and settle for a truce.US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to X to say that he, along with Vice President JD Vance, had engaged with the full spectrum of Indian and Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.Great work from the President’s team, especially Secretary Rubio.And my gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire. https://t.co/ddDzFMAT3H— JD Vance (@JDVance) May 10, 2025Rather significantly, Rubio not only announced an “immediate ceasefire’, but also said that both governments had agreed “to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”. The announcement aligned with language used in the State Department spokesperson’s readouts of calls of Rubio with Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers earlier in the day where he “offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts”.However, Indian government sources quickly pushed back, telling reporters there was “no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place.” Any suggestion of talks would mark a significant shift from India’s long-standing position that “terror and talks can’t go hand in hand.”India has also consistently rejected third-party mediation, viewing the dispute as a bilateral issue under the 1972 Simla Agreement. As a result, any reference to mediation remains a sensitive matter for New Delhi.India gave no credit to the United States for ‘brokering’ the agreement, with official sources insisting it was “worked out directly between the two countries.” In its public statement, New Delhi also avoided using the word ‘ceasefire’, opting instead for the phrasing “stoppage of firing and military action.” Officials stated that it was a bilateral “understanding”, not a ceasefire agreement.”Pakistan was quick to express its gratitude to Washington, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanking Trump for his “leadership and proactive role for peace in the region.”“Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,” he posted on X. In an address to the nation at 1135 IST, he said, “As a responsible nation, we have responded positively for the suggestion of a ceasefire.” Thanking Trump, “who played a vital role in the ceasefire”, and also Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Qatar, the UK and Chinese President Xi Jinping, he said, “We are hopeful that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and all outstanding issues will be solved through negotiations.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has not commented publicly on Operation Sindoor since it began, remained silent on the agreement reached between India and Pakistan as well.Vance spoke to Sharif, Modi, say reports, as concerns at escalation mountedThe developments capped a dramatic day that began with Pakistan launching a retaliatory military operation, dubbed ‘Bunyan-un-Marsoos’ (‘structure made of lead’) in the early hours of Saturday. It followed what Islamabad said were Indian surface-to-air missile attacks on three Pakistani airbases.This was the first time Pakistan had formally named a military operation in the current cycle of hostilities, which began when India initiated Operation ‘Sindoor’ on May 7 to target sites it claimed housed “terror infrastructure” inside Pakistan.Until then, Pakistan had responded primarily with cross-border shelling and drone deployments. These actions had not been formally acknowledged or labelled by Islamabad. India, too, had deployed drones across the border in counter-attacks.The decision to label Saturday’s attack on Indian bases as a formal operation and use Fatah-1 missiles for it – following a night of heavy shelling across the Line of Control – marked a clear escalation in the current round of hostilities.The escalation from drones to missile strikes heightened international alarm, prompting urgent interventions by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Their engagement appears to have opened a window for both India and Pakistan to consider de-escalation.According to CNN, the core group of US officials including US Vice-President J.D. Vance, Rubio and the White House chief of staff monitoring India-Pakistan developments received “alarming intelligence” on the evening of Friday, Washington time.While the US cable news outlet said that Trump administration officials declined to describe the nature of the intelligence, it was on the eve of Pakistan launching its military operation after claiming that India had attacked its bases.The efforts mentioned by CNN appears to mesh with an additional development from Islamabad – the initial report, eventually denied, that Sharif had called a meeting of the country’s Nuclear Command Authority.CNN claimed that the US vice-president himself spoke with Prime Minister Modi around noon on Friday, which would be late night in Delhi. The Pahalgam terror attack, which had triggered the Indian military operation, had taken place when Vance was visiting India. During that conversation with Modi, Vance reportedly outlined a “potential off-ramp” that Pakistan would be amenable to.The US vice-president’s phone call with Modi was “critical”, even as Rubio also worked the phones, said CNN.Rubio’s direct call to General Asim Munir on Saturday – the first of its kind during the crisis – underlined Washington’s concern and its recognition that Pakistan’s military, not the civilian government, holds the real levers of power.Until then, Rubio had been in regular contact with Pakistan’s deputy PM Dar, repeatedly urging restraint. The state department said Rubio had told Munir that the US “urged both parties to find ways to de-escalate” and offered to help start “constructive talks to avoid future conflicts.”The state department later issued identical readouts of Rubio’s calls with India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Dar.“Secretary Rubio emphasised that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation. He further proposed US support in facilitating productive discussions to avert future disputes,” the statements read.Jaishankar’s public statement following the call was strikingly terse: “India’s approach has always been measured and responsible and remains so.” This stood in contrast to his sharper remarks on May 8, when he warned India would “firmly counter any attempts at escalation.” Even on Friday (May 9), he was still telling counterparts that “any escalation will see a strong response”, a line missing from Saturday’s post.Spoke with US @SecRubio this evening.Deeply appreciate US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism.Underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation.🇮🇳 🇺🇸— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 8, 2025Saudis enter pictureSaudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also spoke to both Jaishankar and Dar on May 10, with the Saudi foreign ministry saying the talks “focused on efforts to de-escalate tensions and end ongoing military confrontations.” It added, “His Highness affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to the security and stability of the region and its close and balanced relations with both friendly countries.”🇸🇦📞🇮🇳-🇵🇰 | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan held phone calls with the Minister of External Affairs of India, @DrSJaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar. pic.twitter.com/m8Jiq1lnze— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) May 10, 2025On the night of May 9, Saudi Arabia formally acknowledged that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had visited New Delhi and Islamabad “on the directives of the leadership of Saudi Arabia.” The trip was described as part of Riyadh’s effort “towards de-escalation, ending ongoing military confrontations, and resolving all disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels.”Signs that the crisis was winding down quickly followed.Some signalling from IndiaAn early indicator that New Delhi was preparing to dial down the confrontation came with the public release of names of five militants reportedly killed in the May 7 strikes, suggesting that India considered its military objective complete. Earlier on May 8, Indian foreign secretary had said that it had been too early since start of Operation Sindoor to identify which terrorists have dead.#BreakingNews | Details of terrorists killed in the Indian strikes on 7May in Pakistan1. Mudassar Khadian Khas @ Mudassar @ Abu JundalAffiliation: Lashkar-e-Taiba•In-charge of Markaz Taiba, Muridke.•Received a guard of honour at his funeral by the Pakistan Army.•Wreaths… pic.twitter.com/IbnOgZJUP6— DD News (@DDNewslive) May 10, 2025In Pakistan, at 1.20 pm local time (1.50 pm IST), Dar told a local news channel that messages from Rubio and the Saudi foreign minister had led to a “virtual pause” on the Pakistani side. “Based on the assurance from [US] Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal, we have said that if they don’t do anything, we also won’t. But if there is another reaction from India, we will obviously not have dialogue, but also respond back,” he said.When asked if a ceasefire was in effect, Dar said, “Let’s be patient. We have to see. Army hotline has to happen… two has to tango.”That hotline call between the Indian and Pakistani DGMOs took place at 3.35 p.m. IST.At 3.50 pm, an Indian government source told the media that “any future act of terror will be considered an Act of War against India and will be responded accordingly.” The emphasis on future attacks, rather than ongoing operations, was a clear sign that India considered the current round of hostilities as over.India has decided that any future act of terror will be considered an Act of War against India and will be responded accordingly: Top GoI sources pic.twitter.com/zZSAXzu3o6— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2025Reactions to ceasefire pour inCongratulations started to pour in from relieved world capitals, with UK foreign secretary called the ceasefire as “hugely welcome”. But it was perhaps a bit too early. Just after Pakistan PM had thanked Trump, reports trickled in that the LoC remained hot.From Srinagar, chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted that “air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up”. The city was blacked out and residents reported hearing intermittent explosions. The sound of blasts and firing was heard in Baramulla, which was followed by a blackout in the valley.Residents of Jammu also reported seeing bright red flares in the sky along the International Border while air raids sirens are on. One by one, other border towns also warned of incoming raids and blacked out.With no clarity on how or when the ceasefire will hold – or if it will at all – the situation became fraught.Several TV channels, as well as news agency ANI started to report that Army officers had been attacked by terrorists in army fatigue in Nagrota. But, this was withdrawn and denied by the Army within 15 minutes.Late in the night, Misri came before the media for the third time in a day to deliver a brief statement. From the conference room of Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, he stated that Pakistan had made “repeated violations” of the “understanding” reached between the DGMOs earlier in the day. While the armed forces were giving “appropriate response”, India, he had said had taken “very, very serious note of the violation” and armed forces “given instructions to deal strongly” with any violations at the IB and LoC. More importantly, he said, “We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility”. It was clear that India was not going to call off the ‘understanding’. Late on Saturday night, the Pakistani foreign office said Pakistan “remains committed to faithful implementation of the ceasefire”.Accusing India of violations being committed by India in some areas”, the statement said Pakistani forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint. “We believe that any issues in smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels. The troops on ground should also exercise restraint.”Speaking to Pakistani defence sources, a reporter in Lahore told The Wire that they had no intention of breaking the ceasefire. He said there was “lots of action” over Pakistan too and that this was the result of autonomous systems that had been flown by both sides. “Since they don’t have a man in the loop, once they are in the air, they are in the air… so these drones will either crash and be taken out and that will be that.”The situation on Sunday will reveal whether Saturday night’s ‘action’ was just the usual teething troubles of a new ceasefire or the start of something more serious. For now, however, it does indeed look as if the four-day confrontation between the two countries has come to an uneasy halt.