In a significant move towards de-escalation of recent tensions, India and Pakistan have decided to suspend all military operations on land, air, and sea from 5:00 PM IST on Saturday, official sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The agreement, arrived at through a direct dialogue between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries, is without any pre or post-conditions, MEA sources asserted.

There is no pre or post-condition of the ceasefire. The call was initiated from Pakistan. The Indus Water Treaty to remain in abeyance: MEA sources pic.twitter.com/JxK1yPdTX7

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2025

The call for the ceasefire was made by Pakistan at 3:30 PM IST, when the Pakistani DGMO called his Indian counterpart to suggest an immediate halt to hostilities. “Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to the understanding,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, adding that the DGMOs would meet again for continued talks later on Monday afternoon.

Notably, the Indus Waters Treaty — a water-sharing deal dating back years with the World Bank as the facilitator — has been put on hold as part of India’s reaction to Pakistan’s patronage of cross-border terrorism. The 1960 treaty gives India control over the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and Pakistan control over the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), with restricted use rights allowed for both countries. India is to receive 20% of the entire flow of water under the present system.

The ceasefire agreement comes after India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, which was a response to the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, where 26 lives were lost, including some tourists. India conducted strikes against terror assets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as retaliation. Pakistan retaliated with a series of escalations, such as drone attacks and missile firings, which were successfully repelled by Indian forces.

With the ceasefire now in effect, the question arises of whether continued dialogue is possible, and if issues of consequence — such as terrorism and the status of bilateral agreements — will be brought to diplomacy.