Clash persists between India and Pakistan, despite both countries expressing willingness to reduce tensions
"Hey there! Let's talk about the latest goings-on between India and Pakistan."
HOST:India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire, President Trump made the announcement this morning. This comes after two countries traded strikes for days, an intensity not seen since 1971 when they went to war. Our brilliant reporter Diaa Hadid has been keeping tabs on the situation from her base in Mumbai. She covers both countries from there. Diaa, great to have you with us!
DIAA:Thanks for having me!
HOST:So, what's happening?
HOST:Well, ol' Pompous Pants announced on his social media platform that the two countries have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, then made a quick statement saying Pakistan's director of military operations had called his Indian counterpart and they agreed to this.
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VIKRAM MISRI: It was agreed between them that both sides would halt all fighting and military action on land, air, and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time today.
HOST:Man, this feels like a relief because just a few hours ago, we heard that Pakistan had announced a new military operation against India.
DIAA:Yeah, that's right. India struck air bases in Pakistan, including one close to the capital Islamabad, and Pakistan started a military operation called Iron Wall. Soldiers were seen on video firing projectiles into India.
HOST:We'll get to how this sudden ceasefire came about but can you give us a quick reminder of how this conflict kicked off?
DIAA:Sure thing. It all started on April 22, so not too long ago. Gunmen attacked tourists in a meadow in Indian-held Kashmir, killing 26 people. India claimed the group that took responsibility was a proxy linked to Pakistan's army. Pakistan denied any connection but said they'd defend themselves. And ever since, there's been nightly exchanges of fire after India began military strikes. About 70 people have been killed on both sides, with most of the casualties in Kashmir, the disputed territory squeezed between these two countries.
HOST:How did this ceasefire come about then?
DIAA:You know, it's fascinating, Scott, because for days analysts were calling the Americans out for bullshitting. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was just making phone calls, said the analysts, and Vice President JD Vance went on Fox on Thursday saying they wanted a de-escalation, but...
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VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: But we're not gonna get involved in the middle of a war that's none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it.
DIAA:But then I spoke with Abdullah Khan of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, and he told me the Americans were waiting.
ABDULLAH KHAN: And ultimately, when they felt that the situation was getting out of hand, the Americans intervened directly and through their Arab allies. And eventually, they convinced both parties to de-escalate and agree to a ceasefire.
HOST:Do you have any idea why they agreed to a ceasefire?
DIAA:Yeah. Khan tells me Pakistan was waiting for a moment to sell to its people that they'd shown India that allowed them to save face and step down, and India's trying to win over manufacturing companies abandoning China due to Trump's tariffs. It's not a great time for war, mate.
HOST:NPR's Diaa Hadid in Mumbai, thanks for joinin' us!
DIAA:You're welcome, Scott!
- President Trump announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a relief as the two countries had been trading strikes for days, an intensity not seen since 1971.
- Pakistan had announced a new military operation against India a few hours before the ceasefire was announced.
- Analysts were initially skeptical about the American involvement in the conflict between India and Pakistan, but it seems they played a role in convincing both parties to de-escalate and agree to a ceasefire.
- Pakistan was reportedly waiting for a moment to sell the ceasefire to its people, allowing them to save face, while India was trying to win over manufacturing companies abandoning China due to Trump's tariffs.
