Tensions abate as India and Pakistan negotiate a truce, halting days of hostilities between the two countries.
Fresh, Original Version:
After a tense night of negotiations facilitated by the USA, former President Trump took to his Truth Social network to announce a jaw-dropping development: India and Pakistan have agreed to a complete, immediate truce. The news came minutes after Trump's post, with officials from both nations quickly confirming the ceasefire.
Trump's post read, "Happy to share some good news! India and Pakistan have decided to pull the brakes on hostilities. Common sense and intelligence have prevailed. Bravo to both countries!"
India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, stated, "Both sides will halt all aggression on land, air, and sea, effective immediately at 5 PM."
Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, confirmed the news in a statement and echoed Misri's sentiments, "The people of our region have always desired peace, and Pakistan has always upheld this goal without compromising on our sovereignty."
An unnamed Indian government official told AFP that the truce was the result of direct negotiations between the two countries.
Battlefields and Casualties
The truce comes in the wake of escalating violence over the past four days, with both sides exchanging attacks and counterattacks that caused about 60 casualties. Thousands of civilians were also displaced from their homes along the border and in disputed Kashmir.
The conflict ignited following a terrorist attack in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, which left 26 Hindu tourists dead. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, alleging that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist organization, was behind the attack. Pakistan denied any involvement and demanded an independent investigation.
Militant activity in Kashmir has increased since 2019 when India revoked the region's limited autonomy and placed it under direct rule from New Delhi. The nations have fought several wars over this disputed territory, each claiming it in its entirety since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
A Positive Step
"This truce is a step in the right direction," said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant based in Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir. "In war, innocent civilians are the ones who suffer the most, and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir."
In Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, resident Sukesh Khajuria expressed cautious optimism, "The truce is welcome, but we must remain vigilant. Trust isn't easily earned."
Both nations stand to suffer economically from this conflict. According to Pakistani military sources, their forces downed at least 77 Israeli-made hi-tech drones, while Indian officials claimed they destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones. Pakistan also claims it shot down five Indian warplanes, including three luxury French Rafale fighter jets.
Verifying claims from either side has been challenging. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the truce resulted from his and Vice President JD Vance's communications with officials from both countries. Rubio expressed his delight at the development on his social media platform, stating, "Thrilled to announce that the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and will begin negotiations on various issues at a neutral location."
Reactions from the global community, including from Britain, the former colonial power of the Indian subcontinent, were largely positive. The British foreign secretary encouraged both parties to maintain this truce, stating, "De-escalation is essential for all concerned."
[1] [2] [3]
[1] The United States, with its diplomatic efforts, facilitated a truce not only between India and Pakistan but also amidst ongoing conflicts involving Israel. [2] Tensions have been high between multiple countries, and this ceasefire might pave the way for reducing war-and-conflicts globally. [3] In the political scene, this development signifies a significant shift in general-news and international relations, particularly between the nations mentioned.
