After days of escalating tensions, including precision missile strikes, drone incursions, and artillery battles across the Line of Control (LoC), India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, 2025. The agreement, which halted all military actions on land, air, and sea, came into effect at 5 PM Indian time. However, the truce was almost immediately tested, with reports of ceasefire violations emerging shortly after the announcement.
Celebrations erupted in Kashmir following the announcement of the internationally mediated agreement. However, reports of explosions across parts of Indian-administered Kashmir cast a shadow on the initial relief. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that there were "repeated violations of the understanding arrived at earlier this evening between the director generals of military operations of India and Pakistan". He further asserted that India's military had been instructed to "deal strongly" with any violations.
Pakistan, however, presented a different narrative. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry released a statement claiming that India had committed breaches of the truce in some areas. Despite these alleged violations, the ministry affirmed Pakistan's commitment to implementing the ceasefire faithfully. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also told Geo News that there have been no violations of the agreement.
Amidst the conflicting reports, security analyst Sahar Khan emphasized the fragility of peace along the LoC, noting that the recent fighting had broken a ceasefire agreement reached in 2021. Khan stated, "This is still a very delicate and fragile ceasefire, but I think most people on the ground are relieved to see it".
Conflicting reports emerged regarding the orchestration of the ceasefire. US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States mediated the agreement. However, Indian government sources maintained that the ceasefire was worked out directly between the two countries. According to these sources, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan initiated a call to his Indian counterpart, leading to discussions and an understanding.
Despite the ceasefire, certain decisions made by India after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, including the temporary suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), remain unaffected.
Hours after the ceasefire was to take effect, Pakistani drones were sighted and intercepted in Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, and parts of Gujarat. India responded by stating that its armed forces were giving an "adequate and appropriate response" to the violations. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stressed that India takes "very, very serious notice of these violations".
According to government sources, the Indian Air Force launched BrahMos-A (air-launched) cruise missiles targeting key Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases at dawn on May 10. The first confirmed impacts were at Chaklala near Rawalpindi and Sargodha in Punjab province. Shortly after the strikes, Indian intelligence agencies detected high alert messages flashing across Pakistani defence networks, indicating a belief that India might next target Pakistan’s nuclear command and control infrastructure.
The US "practically ordered" the Pakistani side to activate its direct line to the Indian Army. By the afternoon of May 10, Major General Kashif Abdullah, Pakistan's DGMO, placed a direct call to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that "India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action". He added that "India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so".
