Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced on Thursday, May 15, 2025, that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been extended until Sunday, May 18. According to Dar, this decision stemmed from military-to-military communications between the two countries. He added that the matter would "ultimately go to dialogue" between the civilian leadership of both nations. However, there has been no official confirmation or statement from the Indian side regarding this extension.

The announcement follows a period of heightened tensions and cross-border military actions. The recent escalation was triggered by the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the death of 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, a charge Islamabad denied. In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting what it claimed were terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Indian military bases near the border.

These strikes and counter-strikes led to a dangerous military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan reported that Indian actions had resulted in 36 deaths in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while India claimed at least 21 civilian deaths due to Pakistani shelling. Amid rising concerns, the United States, along with "three dozen countries", intervened to broker a ceasefire, which took effect on May 10.

However, the ceasefire was fragile from the start. Hours after it was implemented, reports emerged of violations, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the breaches. Despite the accusations and continued skirmishes along the LoC, both sides agreed to continue "confidence-building measures" to de-escalate the situation.

According to a PTI report, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan, Major General Kashif Abdullah, and India, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, spoke via hotline on Thursday to discuss the ceasefire, which has now been extended until May 18.

India has taken a firm stance, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refuting claims of external mediation and emphasizing India's right to defend itself against terrorism. India has also pushed back against being grouped diplomatically with Pakistan, asserting that the focus should be on Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism.

Despite the apparent agreement to extend the ceasefire, skepticism remains. Some analysts suggest that the ceasefire is merely a pause, with deeper issues such as the reunification of PoJK and the dismantling of alleged Pakistani terror infrastructure, unresolved. Others point out that while the ceasefire may represent a tactical victory for India, it also highlights the challenges of dealing with an "irresponsible neighbor".

While Pakistan has expressed gratitude to the U.S. for its role in facilitating the ceasefire, India has remained silent on the matter. This difference in response underscores the contrasting narratives and objectives of the two countries in this complex situation.