What is the meaning of ceasefire?
The immediate goal of a ceasefire is to stop violence but the underlying purposes of ceasefires vary. Ceasefires may be intended to meet short-term limited needs (such as providing humanitarian aid), manage a conflict to make it less devastating, or advance efforts to peacefully resolve a dispute.
India Pakistan updates : Ceasefire
The Line of Control (LoC) and border areas remained “largely peaceful”, the Indian Army said on Monday, less than two days after the two nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire. “The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days,”
India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect from 5 pm on Saturday. However, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement within hours. A day after this, India declared that Pakistan had been ‘put on notice’.
India last week, under Operation Sindoor, carried out 24 missile strikes in 25 minutes across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, killing 100 terrorists. The strikes were to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
India-Pakistan top military officials to speak as ceasefire holds :
Top military officials from India and Pakistan are due to speak on Monday to discuss finer details of the ceasefire agreed between them over the weekend.
The US-brokered ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours appears to have held overnight after nearly four days of intense shelling and aerial incursions from both sides.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2025
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying “it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much”.
India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 10, 2025
India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.
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!
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) May 10, 2025
Both nations have ceased hostilities since then but say they remain vigilant, warning each other of the consequences of violating the ceasefire
India announced on Monday that it was reopening 32 airports for civilians that it had earlier said would remain closed until Thursday due to safety concerns.
The tensions were the latest in the decades-long rivalry between the neighbours who have fought two wars over Kashmir, a Himayalan region which they claim in full but administer in part.
The recent hostilities threatened to turn into a full-fledged war as both countries appeared unwilling to back down for days.
Both countries have said that dozens of people from both sides died over the four days of fighting last week, partly due to heavy shelling near the de facto border.
After the ceasefire, however, both the rivals have declared military victory.
Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 10, 2025
On 7 May, India reported striking nine targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir – this was in response to a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
The attack took place in a meadow in the picturesque Pahalgam valley on 22 April.
India blamed a Pakistan-based group for the attack but Islamabad denies any involvement.
In the days since the first strike, India and Pakistan accused each other of cross-border shelling and claimed to have shot down rival drones and aircraft in their airspace.
As the conflict escalated, both nations said they struck the rival’s military bases.
Indian officials reported striking 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, including one in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. India also claimed Pakistan lost 35-40 men at the Line of Control – the de facto border – during the conflict and that its air force lost a few aircraft.
Pakistan has accepted that some Indian projectiles landed at its air force bases.
Indian defence forces have also said that they struck nine armed group training facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing more than 100 militants.
The Pakistan military, in turn, claims it targeted about 26 military facilities in India and that its drones hovered over capital Delhi.
India has confirmed that some Pakistani projectiles landed up at its air force bases, though it did not comment on the claim about Delhi.
Pakistan also claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three French Rafales – India has not acknowledged this or commented on the number, though it said on Sunday that that “losses are a part of combat”.
Pakistan denied the claims that an Indian pilot was in its custody after she ejected following an aircraft crash. India has also said that “all our pilots are back home”.