Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

The US President announced a surprise ceasefire agreement between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan - but “explosions” have since been heard.

US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan following deadly attacks between the nuclear-armed rivals.

“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,” Mr Trump said Saturday on Truth Social, praising the two countries for “using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”

However, just hours after the ceasefire announcement, loud blasts were heard across the city of Srinagar in India-administered Kashmir.

“What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar,” Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said in a post on X.

India’s town of Jammu is reportedly facing drone attacks just hours after the deal was brokered, according to Reuters, citing witnesses who reported hearing blasts and seeing projectiles in the sky.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar earlier confirmed that the nations have agreed to a ceasefire “with immediate effect”, starting at 5 p.m. local time (9:30 pm AET).

“Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Dar posted on X.

Pakistan has since reopened its airspace for all fights across the country.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Picture: AFP.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri speaks during a press briefing in New Delhi on May 10, 2025. Picture: AFP.

US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire was agreed upon after mediation talks with the US. Picture: AFP.

During a news conference, Mr Misri said that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) held a phone call with his Indian counterpart earlier on Saturday afternoon local time. During the conversation, both sides agreed to “stop all firing and military action”.

Mr Misri added that the directors general of the two countries are scheduled to speak again on Monday.

Trails from an Indian air defence system are seen above Jammu during a Pakistani strike. (Photo by Rakesh BAKSHI / AFP)

The latest clashes are the worst in decades between the nuclear-armed foes and have killed over 60 civilians on both sides. Picture: AFP.

Pakistan launched counterattacks against India on May 10, after three of its air bases were struck overnight. Picture: AFP.

The surprise ceasefire announcement came after India and Pakistan continued to accuse the other of strikes overnight into Saturday.

Earlier, Pakistan launched a series of counter-attacks against India in an escalation of the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with the death toll now passing 60.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the counterstrikes, which targeted multiple air bases including a missile storage site in the country’s north on Saturday local time, were in response to repeated Indian strikes on civilians.

“We have given India a befitting response and avenged the blood of our innocent citizens,” Mr Sharif said in a statement from his office.

Pakistan officials said their counter-strikes came shortly after said India fired missiles at three air sites on Saturday – including one close to the capital in Islamabad.

On Saturday night, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with his top security officials as a result of the strikes, with his team sharing a photo of the crisis talks on social media.

A photo of the security meeting which took place on Saturday afternoon local time. Picture: X

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country would consider restraint if India refrained from further attacks.

“We responded because our patience had reached its limit. If they stop here, we will also consider stopping,” Mr Dar told local broadcaster Geo News.

Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told a press conference India was responding to moves by Pakistani forces but would show restraint if Pakistan did so as well.

“The Pakistan military has been observed to be moving their troops into forward areas, indicating offensive intent to further escalate the situation,” she said.

“Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness. Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military.”

Speaking to local news channel ARY TV, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif played down any immediate nuclear threat, calling it a “very distant possibility”.

”We shouldn’t even discuss it in the immediate context,” he said. “Before we get to that point, I think temperatures will come down. No meeting has happened of the National Command Authority, nor is any such meeting scheduled.”

Supporters of a religious group 'Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz' take part in a rally to condemn Indian strikes in Pakistan and to show their support with Pakistan Army, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, May 10, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary.

‘Avoid miscalculation’: World leaders respond

In a series of calls to senior officials in both countries, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged them to restore direct communication to “avoid miscalculation”.

Mr Rubio “emphasised that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation”, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

For the first known time since the conflict erupted, Mr Rubio also spoke with Pakistan’s army chief, considered the country’s key powerbroker.

China also made a similar appeal as did the G7 group of industrialised nations.

Rush to leave

In Jammu, Indian-run Kashmir’s second biggest city, people scrambled to board a special train dispatched to ferry people out.

“There are loud explosions the entire night,” said Karan Varma, a 41-year-old mason.

“There is no choice but to leave”.

India has said its strikes on Wednesday, which has sparked the latest bout of conflict, were retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir in April.

Migrants try to board an overcrowded train at the Jammu Tawi railway station in Jammu on May 10, 2025, amid the ongoing border tensions between India and Pakistan after the Kashmir tourist attack. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

The overwhelming majority were poor labourers from other parts of India seeking to return to their homes.

- With AFP

Originally published as Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire