One Phone Call: US Role in India-Pak Conflict De-escalation

Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, and his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. Pakistan proposed a ceasefire, and India responded positively, according to people familiar with the matter.

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However, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later confirmed that Pakistan breached this agreement later the same evening.

The de-escalation came after India launched a series of targeted military strikes under Operation Sindoor, in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. On May 7, India struck nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These were followed by more military actions targeting Pakistani air bases, radar installations, and command centers.

India maintained that its actions were defensive and proportionate. Officials said New Delhi responded to Islamabad's missile and drone attacks on Indian military sites. They emphasized that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to combat terrorism and send a strong message to Pakistan: any future terror attack would be treated as an act of war.