Kunwar Khuldune Shahid

The India-Pakistan ceasefire is a triumph for Trump

Indian guards at the border with Pakistan (Credit: Getty images)

After more than four days of clashes since the early hours of Wednesday morning, India and Pakistan have agreed to a full ceasefire. President Donald Trump announced it on his Truth Social Platform, confirming that the ceasefire had come ‘after a long night of talks mediated by the United States’.

The announcement was made hours after Pakistan launched Operation Banyan al-Marsous with both Islamabad and New Delhi claiming to have struck each other’s military bases with heavy missiles. Pakistan’s strikes were a response to India’s Operation Sindoor that had been aimed at jihadist sites in Pakistan, following the April 22 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. While claims of both sides will be dissected in the coming days, Trump’s announcement brings weeks of tension between the two nuclear-armed rivals to a halt.

The leadership of both countries can present themselves as victors to their domestic audience in the coming days

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary if State, played a critical role in the de-escalation, having been in touch with the leadership of both countries over the past two days.

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