President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan have reached a pause in fighting after engaging in talks with the United States.
The conflict escalated early Saturday morning before the ceasefire was announced, when Pakistan launched a strike against India in retaliation for attacks India has launched since Wednesday.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said in a post to Truth Social Saturday morning.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said he and Vice President JD Vance “engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials,” and that the two countries “agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” he said.
Trump’s announcement comes after Pakistan’s Saturday strike against India, which it described as retaliation against recent “Indian aggression.” Pakistan said India had targeted three of its air bases with missile attacks.
Tensions have been high between the two nuclear powers since April when 26 Indian tourists were killed in an Islamic terrorist attack the country blamed on Pakistan. India struck several areas described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan on Wednesday, maintaining that its attack was retaliation for the deadly attack last month in Indian Kashmir.
INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICT SPLITS ALLEGIANCES BETWEEN ALLIES CHINA AND RUSSIA
Pakistan has denied India’s claim that it was involved in the terrorist attack. About 48 people have been killed since Wednesday.
The two countries have a long history of tension and on-again, off-again fighting since they each gained independence from Great Britain in 1947.