India and Pakistan agree to a US-brokered ceasefire
Image: Aman Sharma/AP
On Saturday, India and Pakistan agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire to end recent fighting in the Kashmir region, which marked the most serious conflict between the two nuclear powers in decades.
- The US-mediated ceasefire, announced by President Trump, appeared in danger hours later when India and Pakistan accused each other of violating its terms.
- But the deal remained in place as of last night after both sides reiterated their commitment to halt the fighting.
A familiar fight
The decades-old conflict between India and Pakistan reignited last month when a deadly militant attack killed 26 people in an India-controlled area of Kashmir, a historically disputed territory. Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947 after Britain gave up control of the Indian subcontinent—but both countries claim Kashmir in full. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the region, most recently in 1999.
- India blamed last month’s attack in Kashmir on a Pakistani-linked terrorist group—which it claims was backed by the country’s government—while Pakistani officials denied any connection.
- In response, India launched missile strikes against Pakistan last Wednesday, resulting in back-and-forth escalation that saw both sides launch missiles and drones at military bases and other targets in the opponent’s territory (leading to 45+ reported civilian deaths).
The fighting halted on Saturday, when India and Pakistan’s top foreign officials agreed to a ceasefire following diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. And, despite artillery fire being reported in Kashmir several hours after the peace deal took effect, the fighting appeared to have fully paused by Sunday morning.
Looking ahead…The top military chiefs from India and Pakistan are scheduled to speak today. The two countries have also agreed to start talks "on a broad set of issues" at a neutral site in the near future, US officials say.
📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, what’s the likelihood that the India-Pakistan conflict will escalate to a full war in the next six months?
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Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that while India and Pakistan have seemingly pulled back from the brink again, that there’s little to suggest that the new truce represents any return to old patterns of restraint, as so many of the underlying accelerants remain volatile.
- Others contend that India and Pakistan should restrain themselves and prevent a wider war at all costs due to the existential stakes on the subcontinent, with both countries owning dozens of nukes.
- “The Danger for India and Pakistan Has Not Gone Away” –Mujib Mashal, NY Times
- “For India and Pakistan, a path to de-escalation” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “A newly dangerous moment in an old dispute” –The Guardian Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that even if the US doesn’t play an active part in the India-Pakistan conflict, it should wish India well—because a less dangerous Pakistan would be a gift to the world, due to its militant leadership.
- Others contend that the India-Pakistan conflict would only be of relatively mild concern for the international community were it not for one factor—the ~200 nukes they own between the two of them, making it essential that the US help broker peace.
- “India Tries to Subdue the Threat From Pakistan” –Sadanand Dhume, WSJ
- “How the US military guards against India-Pakistan nuclear war” –Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner
- “India-Pakistan: Terror, Nukes and Reunion?” –Austin Bay, Creators Syndicate
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