Hammered by India, chastened Pakistan opts for ceasefire

In fast moving developments on Saturday noon and evening, the military action launched by India on 7 May against the Pakistan military and terror groups was called off and a ceasefire agreement reached even as indications coming from multiple quarters had indicated that a large-scale military action would be conducted by India in the coming hours.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The planned military strikes were called off by India and a ceasefire reached with Pakistan after the Pakistani side, through their Director General Military Operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart at 3:35 PM after which discussions took place and an understanding reached.

Highly placed officials told The Sunday Guardian that the stoppage of military action between the two countries was worked out directly between the two. To be sure, the DGMOs interact only after getting a green signal from their leadership.

The call for ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan after the Indian military carried out sustained strikes on Pakistan military assets throughout the morning, weakening a significant part of its air defence and leaving it vulnerable to Indian missiles and strikes.

While no official confirmation was shared it is likely to emerge in the future that Islamabad reached out to Washington seeking their good relations with New Delhi to stop further military action.

Sources further stated that there is no decision to hold talks with Pakistan on any other issue at any other place.

Soon after the DGMO call ended, as it emerged later, India decided to treat any future act of terror as an Act of War which would be responded to accordingly.

It is pertinent to mention that the Indian military commanders, whom The Sunday Guardian had spoken to on Saturday morning had stated that they were preparing for a major assault.

It is pertinent to mention that apart from the military actions that India took under Operation Sindoor on 7 May, it has also taken multiple non-military actions post the killing of 26 people by members of the Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist groups.

This includes suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, stopping of bilateral trade and blocking of all audiovideo content that originated from Pakistan. The status quo on these matters will be maintained, officials said.