India and Pakistan reach ceasefire deal, U.S. announces

The governments of India and Pakistan have reached a ceasefire deal after days of fighting, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced early Saturday.

“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. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, shortly after Rubio issued a statement announcing that the two nations, “have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

Shortly after the ceasefire was announced, Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement that Rubio “offered U.S. assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts,” but did not indicate when those talks would begin or where they would take place.

The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan confirmed the ceasefire agreement, with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, writing in a post on X that, “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!”

In a press conference, Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri told reporters 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 this understanding.”

India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday minimized the U.S.’ role in mediating a ceasefire, saying in a post on X that, “Stoppage of firing and military action between India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries.”

In a separate tweet, however, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump and the U.S. for “facilitating this outcome,” further sowing confusion about the Trump administration’s role in the ceasefire.

“We thank President 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,” Sharif wrote.

He added, “We also thank Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their valuable contributions for peace in South Asia.”

In their statement, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also said that there was, “no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place,” despite the U.S. State Department’s claim that the two nations had decided “to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

Later Saturday, though, Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, wrote on X that he heard explosions in Kashmir after the announcement of the ceasefire. The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear.

“What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!” he wrote.

The news comes just days after Pakistan began shelling across the border in a disputed region between the two nations called Kashmir.

India said at least 16 civilians had been killed since the attacks began and Pakistan said at least 31 people died after India launched airstrikes Thursday in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Tensions between the two nuclear powers escalated after an April 22 terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. Indian officials said that the militant groups responsible for that attack have ties to Pakistan, which denied any involvement.