Minutes after India announced a ceasefire with Pakistan after days of missile, drone and artillery attacks, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar added a strong postscript: "India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so".
Mr Jaishankar's message echoed in the government briefing on the ceasefire: "We remain fully prepared and ever vigilant, and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland".
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh warned, "Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength, and every future escalation will invite a decisive response. We remain fully operationally ready to launch whatever operations may be required in defence of the nation."
The first government confirmation came from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who informed that India and Pakistan, in a call between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the countries at 3.30 pm, agreed they would stop all firing and military action on "land and in the air and sea", with effect from 5 pm today. Track live updates here.
The Director Generals will talk again on Monday at 12 pm.
"Long Night Of Talks"
Mr Misri's statement followed an unexpected post by United States President Donald Trump, announcing the ceasefire, who added it was mediated by the US in a "long night of talks".
The post was unexpected as it was a deviation from the earlier stance of the US: The conflict between India and Pakistan is "fundamentally none of our business".
The statement was issued a day ago by US Vice President JD Vance who stressed," What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, , but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it."
"You know, America can't tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We can't tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, we're going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels," said Vance, a proponent of US disengagement from international conflicts.
Meanwhile, sources said it was a "conditional" ceasefire, and there is no change in India's position on the diplomatic measures against Pakistan
The ceasefire comes a day after Pakistan targeted Indian air bases. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told a briefing earlier Saturday that there were "several high-speed missile attacks" on air bases, but "limited damage" to equipment.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
The strained ties between the nuclear-powered neighbours broke down after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists in a picturesque valley in Pahalgam on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge denied by Pakistan.
The attack set off several diplomatic actions by India against its neighbour, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. It was also followed by a strong statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who vowed to avenge the attack. Nearly two weeks after the attack, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', hitting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
What followed was a wave of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions, which India said was "repulsed" by its forces, who gave a "befitting reply" to Islamabad's aggression.
