India Pakistan ceasefire news live: Govt briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ at 6.30 pm

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid, reacting to US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue on Sunday, said India’s long-standing policy, in line with the Simla Agreement, rejects any third-party involvement, stressing that the Kashmir dispute is a bilateral matter to be resolved directly between India and Pakistan through dialogue.

“As far as the Kashmir issue is concerned, India’s stated policy is that we do not welcome any third party intervention, this is as per Simla Agreement, this is a dispute between two countries and they will sit together to resolve this,” he told ANI

BJP leader and former deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta on Sunday reiterated India’s position that there is no need for mediation on Kashmir.

“Yesterday, the foreign secretary said that Pakistan’s DGMO made a request, and then we reached an understanding. The talks will be held on May 12 again. For us, Kashmir is not an issue, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is ours and Pakistan should return it to us,” Kavinder Gupta told ANI.

He said that the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to give a befitting reply to any Pakistani aggression on India. (ANI)

During a press conference on Friday, Pakistan’s Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said that they tried to tell India with “our tactical brilliance in Pulwama” about the pride and thrust in Pakistani forces.

“Pakistani people, when they are threatened, there’s loss of life, loss of material, it cannot go unnoticed,” he said.

“The pride and the thrust the Pakistani nation has on its armed forces, we have always upheld it at all cost. We did try to tell them with our tactical brilliance in Pulwama. Now we showed them our operational prowess and strategic guile and guide. I think they should take heed,” he added. Read more.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and terrorism remain major issues with India and could be discussed in any future dialogue with the neighbouring country.

Asif’s comments came when he was asked about tackling the pending issues with India following the understanding reached with India on Saturday to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect.

Asif said major issues with India related to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), terrorism and Kashmir could be discussed in potential talks with India.

“These are the three major issues that can be discussed,” the channel quoted Asif as saying. (PTI)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the country’s political leadership, including his coalition partners and opposition, for demonstrating “exemplary” unity and integrity during the four-day confrontation between Pakistani and Indian militaries.

In an address to the nation late Saturday night, Sharif said the “path of peaceful negotiations” should be adopted to solve the longstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including sharing of water resources, and the Kashmir issue. (PTI) 

Congress has reiterated its demanded of an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra and a special session of Parliament to discuss the situation between India and Pakistan. 

“The Indian National Congress once again demands that an all-party meeting be convened under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament be held on the issues of Pehalgam, Operation Sindoor, and the ceasefire announced first by Washington DC and subsequently by the governments of India and Pakistan, so that comprehensive discussions can take place on all these matters.

The Indian National Congress believes that the mention of a “neutral platform” for dialogue between India and Pakistan by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raises several questions – have we abandoned the Shimla Agreement? Have we opened the door for third-party mediation?” said Jairam Ramesh in a post on X. 

Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur, Punjab, said that the situation in the district is peaceful and forces are on constant vigil. The statement by Ferozepur DC also said that work may be resumed as normal. 

Also, people have been advised to avoida bursting crackers and avoid firwarding unverified social media messages. 

The statement read, “A very good morning. Situation is peaceful in Ferozepur. Forces are on constant vigil. Work may be resumed as normal.

As abundant caution:

Please discourage local people from bursting crackers, flying drones and forwarding unverified social media messages. Action may be taken against them. Pl stay away and refrain from spreading any false information/misinformation.

We will take immediate action and inform you in time, if there is any intimation wrt any threat in the area.

Thanks for the cooperation and the resilience displayed.” 

In February 1999, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee crossed the Attari border with a phalanx of stars and celebrities on the inaugural Delhi-Lahore bus service. The bus, painted in the colours of both nations, rolled into Lahore where then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif welcomed the delegation. Against the backdrop of Mughal-era monuments, the two leaders signed a declaration that seemed to transcend the bitter history of Partition. 

The bonhomie was short- lived. In the summer of that year, shepherds tipped off Indian forces that Pakistani soldiers had infiltrated into Kargil and occupied strategic mountains, triggering a full-blown conflict a year after both countries acquired nuclear capabilities. Click here to read the full story.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to India’s National Security Advisory (NSA) Ajit Doval and expressed hope that New Delhi and Islamabad would address their differences through dialogue and achieve a lasting ceasefire.

During their conversation, Doval told Wang that war was not India’s choice but India needed to take counter-terrorism action after the Pahalgam attack, state-run Xinhua news agency reported in separate dispatches.

Wang also condemned the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which had cross-border linkages and triggered the worst fighting between India and Pakistan in years. (PTI)

For four days, spiralling hostilities between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan had the world on edge. But the end came swiftly, via a phone call at 3.35pm on Saturday. The cessation of hostilities was achieved after a call from Pakistan director general of military operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. The former’s offer to stop the firing and the air attacks was met with the response that India too would do the same, people directly familiar with the matter said.

To be sure, Pakistan “breached” agreement later in the evening, as acknowledged by India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri.

India’s strategic strikes on Pakistani military installations and the US’s nudge to Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir to deescalate – Washington’s backing for a International Monetary Fund bailout package for Islamabad was likely conditional to this – were key factors behind the understanding on stopping military actions, people familiar with the matter said. Read more.

Following the ceasefire agreement’s announcement, residents in border areas celebrated the development.

For Dharam Singh, a vendor outside Attari International Customs Post (ICP), the ceasefire meant resumption of business. “Today, there is a kind of festivity in our house”, he said.

In the border villages of Hussainwala sector in Ferozepur district of Punjab, there was sense of relief. “At last good news has arrived for them,” said Gurnam Singh, the sarpanch of Tendiwala village. “We hope to resume work in fields. We know we have to be cautious.”

Naresh Kumar, a shopkeeper in Pokhran area of Rajasthan, said he and his family were praying for normalcy to return. “I have elderly parents and small children who were very anxious. Ceasefire is a big relief as I can return to my work from tomorrow,” he said. (With inputs from Vishal Rambani, Mukesh Mathrani, Maulik Pathak)

The four-day conflict between India and Pakistan revealed warfare’s dual revolutions: advanced strike systems and sophisticated information operations that aided both sides to target the other deep behind enemy lines without crossing physical borders. Both militaries deployed drones, standoff weapons and automated air defences, while simultaneously waging battles over perception and reality on the digital battlefield.

The conflict— the first between the nuclear-armed neighbours since 1999 — marked the combat debut of multiple advanced systems that circumvented conventional confrontations.

Pakistan used Turkish-origin armed drones to target 36 locations simultaneously across a 900-kilometer frontier and deployed Chinese-made PL-15 beyond visual range air-to-air missiles fired from JF-17 fighter jets against India for the first time. Read more.

‘Operation Sindoor’, which was launched on May 7, began with India achieving its intended target; it hit nine terror training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the precision strikes killing around 100 terrorists in just 26 minutes; while India has not officially put out a number, 100 was the number mentioned by defence minister Rajnath Singh when he briefed leaders of other political parties, according to people present at the meeting. The targets were selected based on hard intelligence and their nefarious track record of perpetrating terror activities.

Five of the terror sites targeted across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir were between nine and 30 km inside PoK; the rest six to 100 km across the international border (IB) in Pakistan. (With inputs from Rahul Singh) 

The Delhi government on Saturday continued its push towards preparing the national capital for any contingencies, with chief minister Rekha Gupta urging departments to enhance coordination and readiness even as tension between India and Pakistan appeared to have de-escalated by evening following a ceasefire announcement.

Hours before the ceasefire was declared, Gupta chaired a high-level review meeting with heads of major departments and instructed them to remain on alert, stressing that Delhi must be equipped for all emergencies — regardless of how the geopolitical situation unfolds.

“The government’s priority is to ensure the safety of every citizen and the uninterrupted availability of essential services,” Gupta said in a statement after the meeting. “All departments must adopt a coordinated, active strategy to respond swiftly in case of any emergency.” Read more.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday morning hailed the ceasefire “understanding” between India and Pakistan after four days of intense hostilities over the Pahalgam terror attack, saying the aggression could have led to the deaths of millions. He said he would engage in more trade with the two estranged neighbours and work with them to find a solution to the Kashmir issue.

“I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision. While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade substantially with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done,” Trump wrote today on Truth Social.

The situation remained peaceful in Punjab’s Doaba region as no drone movement was spotted during the night. However, the district administrations have asked the people to be cautious.

The power supply was resumed within two hours after the blackout was enforced from 8:50pm onwards.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said that as per information received from security forces, there is nothing to worry and work may resume here as normal. “Forces are on constant vigil,” he said.

Manjeet Singh, a resident of Amritsar, said that people of Amritsar trust the army.  While talking to ANI, he said, “…All the drone attacks Pakistan launched were thwarted and given a fitting reply by the Army…So, people of Amritsar trust the Army. There is no panic here…The mistake they committed last night, when they violated ceasefire, is highly condemnable. They will be given a fitting reply.”

Amritsar DC said in a statement issued at 8.15 am that a short siren will be heard, which would indicate that normal activities can be resumed in the city. 

“You will hear a short siren. It means we can resume our normal activities. Thank you for your kind cooperation,” read the statement. (ANI)

Former deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav mourned the death of BSF personnel Mohammad Imtiaz Sahab, who died in Jammu during cross-border firing with Pakistan. Mohammad Imtiaz Sahab hailed from Bihar’s Chhapra.

“Salutations and countless respects to the bravery and sacrifice of the courageous BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiaz Sahab, a resident of Chhapra, Bihar, who attained martyrdom for the country’s security at the international border in Jammu. The nation will always honor his valor, prowess, courage, sacrifice, and patriotism,” Tejashwi Yadav said in a post on X.

The border across the western frontier with Pakistan, especially in Jammu, will continue to be on high alert with the maximum available boots guarding it on the ground, officials said on Saturday, soon after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all military actions against each other after four days of intense armed confrontation triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack — an agreement breached by Islamabad hours later.

Officials in the Border Security Force (BSF), which guards 2526.86 km of the Indo-Pak International Border and 237.2 km of Line of Control, said the force will continue to be on high alert because of mass infiltration attempts (aided by Pakistan Rangers) in the last few days at the border along Jammu sector and a history of foreign terrorists attempting to infiltrate into India from there.

“There will be no decrease in the number of personnel. The Jammu sector has been very active in the past few days. There will be a zero-tolerance policy on infiltration,” one senior officer said requesting anonymity. Read more.

After India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire, Iftikhar Ahmad Bazmi, a civil rights activist from Poonch, said that people are feeling relieved and there is a sense of celebration in the air. “We are celebrating this moment because we had many apprehensions,” he said. “Now, the people will be called upon to support the administration in rebuilding Poonch — to restore it to what it once was.”

In Poonch, district president of Youth Congress Zulafqar Ahmad said people were hugging each other to celebrate soon after the ceasefire was announced.

“…but people remain apprehensive as Pakistan is habitual of ceasefire violations. It was traumatic this time for people because our generation had not seen such cross-border violence. After days of shelling and fear, there is finally hope returning among locals,” he added.

Over the past four days, people migrated from the border towns and villages in large numbers.

“The situation was such that people first fled from Poonch to Surankote and Jammu, and then were again rushing back after attacks were reported in Jammu city,” Zulafqar added. (With inputs from Mir Ehsan & Dar Ovais)

In total, more than 25 lives were lost across Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan launched drone attacks and artillery shelling on border towns over four days in the aftermath of the Operation Sindoor, India’s precision missile strike at nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. A total of 26 people, 25 tourists and a local.

The latest India-Pakistan conflict was the worst in more than 50 years even as it lasted just four days. 

(With inputs from Mir Ehsan & Dar Ovais)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday took a poetic dig at Pakistan hours after Islamabad violated a ceasefire it had announced with India to stop all hostilities. In a post on X, Tharoor posted a Hindi couplet saying: “Uski fitrat hai mukar jaane ki, uske vaade pe yakeen kaise karu (It’s their nature to go back on their word, how can I trust their promises?)”. 

Tight security is in place at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. Devotees who are coming to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Santsar ji, which is location insident airport premises, are being turned away citing security reasons.

One of the devotees, Dhyan Singh told ANI, “We had come to the Gurdwara to pay obeisance. I go there every Sunday. But today, it is closed due to some security reasons. I had come to Gurdwara Santsar ji, it is inside the airport premises.”

After four days of persistent artillery shelling, drone attacks and border skirmishes, the news of India and Pakistan agreeing to a ceasefire spread like wildfire in Jammu and Kashmir and brought with it a sigh of relief. In Poonch, among the areas worst hit from Pakistan shelling, people finally breathed easy even as they expressed doubts over the truce. Poonch accounted for nearly 20 fatalities, mostly civilians, in the four days of shelling.

The locals, having endured four days of continuous shelling, said they were waiting to see if the calm would hold through the night, before feeling fully secure. Read more.