New Delhi: As India and Pakistan on Saturday worked out an understanding on stopping firing and military action, the UK and Saudi Arabia welcomed the development while the European Union termed it a “vital step towards de-escalation” and said all efforts must be made to ensure it is respected.
Germany said the ceasefire agreed between the two countries is the “first, important step out of the escalation spiral”. The directors general of military operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 pm on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Saturday evening.
The brief announcement by the foreign secretary came shortly after US President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after US-mediated talks. The DGMO of Pakistan called the DGMO of India at 3.35 pm IST earlier this afternoon, Misri said. The announcement came days after India carried out Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam attack.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries teetering on the edge of full scale war.
Several countries have reacted to this key development in the region. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said this is a “vital step toward de-escalation” and all efforts must be made to ensure it is respected. In a post on X, Kallas also said she spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “Just spoke again with @DrSJaishankar and @MIshaqDar50. The announced ceasefire between India and Pakistan is a vital step toward de-escalation. All efforts must be made to ensure it is respected. The EU remains committed to peace, stability, and counter-terrorism in the region,” Kallas posted on X.
The external affairs minister on Thursday had a phone conversation with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also welcomed the ceasefire agreed between India and Pakistan, and asserted that “de-escalation is in everybody’s interest”. “Today’s ceasefire between India and Pakistan is hugely welcome. I urge both parties to sustain this. De-escalation is in everybody’s interest,” he said in a post on X. Saudi Arabia too welcomed it and expressed optimism that it will help ”restore security and peace in the region”. “Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India, optimistic that it will restore security and peace in the region,” the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia posted on X.