Trump claims credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire; both nations’ DGMOs to meet on Monday

Bringing the spell of intense hostility to a halt, India and Pakistan announced a complete ceasefire on Saturday, May 8 at 5 PM.

Top officials said that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries had agreed to “stop all firing and military action on land, in the air and sea”.

The officials added, “Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The DGMOs will talk again on the 12th of May, at 1200 hours.”

The official announcement came minutes after the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, had announced that, following American mediation, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the two countries. In a social media post, Trump said, “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “Pakistan’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) called Indian DGMO at 3.35 PM earlier this afternoon. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 5 PM Indian Standard Time.”

Both sides are slated to conduct another round of talks on May 12, he said.

While briefing the press, Commodore Ravi Nair said, “As the Foreign Secretary had said, there is an understanding that has been reached to stop all military activities on sea, air and land. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy have been instructed to adhere to this understanding.”

During the press briefing by the Ministry of Defence earlier in the day, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had addressed the misinformation campaign run by Pakistan.

“Pakistan claimed that it damaged our S-400 and BrahMos missile base with its JF-17, which is completely wrong. Secondly, it also ran a misinformation campaign that our airfields in Sirsa, Jammu, Pathankot, Bhatinda, Naliya and Bhuj were damaged, and this misinformation is also completely wrong,” they said, adding, “Thirdly, according to Pakistan’s misinformation campaign, our ammunition depot in Chandigarh and Vyas was damaged, which is also completely wrong. Pakistan made false allegations that the Indian Army damaged mosques,” said Colonel Qureshi during the press briefing.

Also Read: Pakistan military bases targeted with precision ammunition, fighter jets: MEA

On the other hand, Wing Commander Singh also highlighted that the Indian Army’s actions had been limited to “terrorist camps,” and no religious sites were damaged. “In the highest regard, our operations have been aimed exclusively at terrorist camps and facilities being used for anti-India activities. No religious sites have been targeted by the Indian Armed Forces,” she said.

Furthermore, it was disclosed that the military had been able to damage multiple crucial Pakistani air bases — Skardu, Jacobabad,and Bholari. “In addition, a loss of AD weapon systems and radar made the defence of Pakistani airspace untenable. Across the Line of Control, extensive and precise damage to military infrastructure, command control centres, and logistic installations — in addition to that, two military personnel — had led to a complete breakdown of its defensive and offensive capability, and also Pakistani morale,” Singh added.

It was, however, stated earlier that any further act of terrorism on Indian soil will be seen as an act of war from Pakistan’s end.