India-Pakistan Ceasefire: How the Deal Unfolded Amid Escalating Tensions

Amid heightened tensions between the two neighbouring nations, an unexpected ceasefire agreement was announced, taking many by surprise. Former United States President Donald Trump was the first to declare the development through a post on social media, which left observers puzzled. Until then, the United States had shown little visible involvement in the issue, making Trump’s announcement all the more startling. In this context, Indian officials have now revealed what transpired behind the scenes.

At a time when India was intensifying its strikes, a ceasefire proposal emerged from Pakistan. Around 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Major General Kashif Abdullah, contacted Indian DGMO Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai via hotline. During the conversation, Kashif Abdullah brought up the topic of a ceasefire. He also referenced conversations involving United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir. This pointed to a clear indication that the proposal for a ceasefire originated from Pakistan's military leadership.

However, even though Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai informed his superiors about the proposal, he received no instructions to proceed with discussions with the Pakistani DGMO. At 10:50 a.m., during a press briefing conducted by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, there was no mention of the Pakistani ceasefire proposal. Instead, the press meet focused solely on the Indian Air Force (IAF) air strikes on Pakistani military installations and the resulting damages.

Interestingly, around 11:00 a.m., as United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Indian Air Force had escalated its offensive. The IAF destroyed the strategically critical Noor Khan Air Base, creating alarm within the Pakistani military establishment. As India continued to target key military and air bases, Pakistan appeared increasingly distressed. It was during this critical phase that Pakistan extended the ceasefire proposal to India.

Following his conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter), indicating that "India’s stance has always been measured and responsible, and remains so now." Although Marco Rubio urged for immediate de-escalation, Jaishankar did not prioritize the ceasefire proposal based on the prevailing situation.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs—General Upendra Dwivedi (Army), Admiral Dinesh Tripathi (Navy), and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh (Air Force)—alongside Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka and Research and Analysis Wing Chief Ravi Sinha. According to information, the participants collectively assessed that India had gained the upper hand and should consolidate its strategic advantage. Pakistan’s initiation of the ceasefire was seen as a sign of India’s upper hand. The meeting also noted that India had favourable conditions, including higher troop morale, ample armament reserves, stronger economic standing, growing international sympathy, and the Indian Navy’s "blue water" capabilities in the Indian Ocean.

In this context, the rapid agreement on a ceasefire within just a few hours astonished many observers.

Globally, another narrative is being circulated. On Friday, United States Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared intelligence suggesting that Pakistan was preparing for escalatory actions—possibly involving nuclear weapons. According to CNN, citing defence sources, this intelligence prompted India to reconsider its actions.

However, some believe this explanation does not fully hold. Pakistan has publicly declared on several occasions that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons. Furthermore, India continued to increase pressure through military strikes for another 24 hours even after Vance's advisory call. Despite this, Pakistan maintained a defensive posture and refrained from retaliatory strikes. Additionally, reports suggest that Pakistan convened a meeting of its National Command Authority, which oversees nuclear weapons, on Saturday—only to cancel it later, an act that India reportedly viewed with derision.

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have not issued any official statements on the ceasefire agreement thus far. Consequently, an official response from senior Indian government officials is expected after the DGMO-level discussions scheduled to be held via hotline between India and Pakistan on May 12.