WASHINGTON—Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire following U.S.-led talks to end an intensifying military confrontation, President Donald Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social media platform Saturday morning.
“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 said in a post on Truth Social.
“Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Pakistan’s foreign minister also said both countries had agreed to a ceasefire “with immediate effect” and India’s foreign ministry said it would start at 5 p.m. Indian time (1130 GMT).
The agreement follows several weeks of military clashes in the aftermath of an armed and deadly attack on tourists last month that India blames Pakistan for. Hours earlier, India and Pakistan both carried out strikes using drones and missiles fired from fighter jets in a major escalation of the conflict.
U.S. role in the ceasefire
In the lead-up to the ceasefire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held calls with Indian and Pakistani officials, including Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who he spoke with on May 8.
The State Department said that Rubio emphasized the United States’ desire for a deescalation in that call and one with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar the same day.
Rubio was the point person leading the conversations and outreach to the two nations on behhalf of the United States, the department’s spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.
Late on the evening of May 9, the department said Rubio spoke to Pakistan’s army chief and said the United States would be willing to mediate talks.
Overnight, Rubio pushed the countries to re-establish direct communication in calls with Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, and Jaishankar.
In a staement on May 10 after Trump announced the ceasefire, Rubio said that Vice President JD Vance had also participated in calls.
“I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” Rubio said.
Vance, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month, thanked Rubio said in a social media post, and expressed his gratitude “to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”
The vice president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Vance’s involvement.
Vance said in a May 8 interview on Fox News that the United States wanted the conflict between the nuclear powers to deescalate, and it could push them in that direction, but the administration had control over the nations’ actions.
“What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it,” Vance said.
Contributing: Reuters.