New Delhi: After more than three days of intense militarybconflict and attacks on each other’s territory, India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm.
But India has made it clear that the truce is only a military ceasefire, without any pre-condition.
India’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy against any form of terrorism, spelt out time and again over the years, remains unchanged. As also a slew of diplomatic sanctions announced by India against Pakistan after the horrific April 22 Pahalgam massacre when 26 innocent men, mostly tourists, were shot dead at the Baisaran valley.
“There are no pre or post-conditions attached to the ceasefire. The call for de-escalation came from Pakistan,” ANI quoted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources as saying.
Also Read: After Ceasefire Agreement, India Reveals Details Of ‘Extensive Damage’ To Pakistani Air Bases
Hence, the Indus Waters Treaty, which was kept in abeyance post the Pahalgam attack, will remain suspended.
Other sanctions, like cancellation of visas, closing borders, suspension of trade, will also continue.
US President Donald Trump, who broke the news on social media, claimed that the India-Pakistan ceasefire “after a long night of talks mediated by the United States”.
US Secretary of Defence Marco Rubio lauded Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif for choosing the path of peace, and added that India and Pakistan have “agreed to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.
But there was no such resonance from Indian officials, neither External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar nor Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in their post-ceasefire agreement statements.
Quoting ministry sources, India Today reported that there would be no talks across the table right now, but for a talk between the two Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) on the ceasefire issue at 12 noon on May 12.
