After days of intense military conflict between India and Pakistan—marked by drone strikes, missile attacks and heavy shelling that reportedly left more than 60 civilians dead—the announcement of a ‘full’ and ‘immediate’ ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbors on Saturday comes as both a relief and an opportunity. The announcement, first made by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform and quickly confirmed by officials in both New Delhi and Islamabad, has brought a precarious but welcome pause to what looked like the brink of war between the two nuclear-armed nations in South Asia. Reports suggest that intense mediatory efforts on the part of senior US and Saudi Arabian officials with their counterparts in India and Pakistan helped broker this crucial deal to stop the region from the brink of a major war after 1999. Calls for restraint from other countries such as China, the European Union, Russia, and the G7 members were equally important for this diplomatic breakthrough. Both India and Pakistan have now announced that their ongoing hostilities and military actions would stop effective from 5 PM (local time) on Saturday. This is a welcome development. Both countries should now let common sense prevail as war is not in the interests of any nation.
The latest round of hostilities between the two arch-rival nations in South Asia was triggered by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, including a Nepali national on April 22. India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba of orchestrating the attack and launched retaliatory strikes under “Operation Sindoor” on May 7. Pakistan denied involvement and responded with its own military actions, including drone incursions and missile launches. As the violence escalated, the world watched with growing concern. The ceasefire deal is not merely a diplomatic gesture—it is a lifeline for many in the region. For Nepal in particular, the significance of this ceasefire cannot be overstated. Our geopolitical, economic and social ties with India are deep and immediate. Any escalation of conflict in our southern neighborhood inevitably affects our trade, security and public sentiment. Thousands of Nepalis fight alongside the Indian Army personnel in the bordering areas. Thousands of other Nepalis live, work and study in various parts of India. As the hostilities between the two nations began, there were concerns among thousands of families of Indian Gurkha soldiers back in Nepal about the fate of their loved ones. Lawmakers in Nepal have rightly raised the issue in Parliament, urging the government to remain alert and engaged. When a wildfire of war flares up next door, sitting idle is not an option.
Swadharma: A sense of natural harmony and clarity
The ceasefire deal reached between India and Pakistan is a step in the right direction—but its durability depends on what comes next. Both countries need to keep their channels of communication open and address the issues of their differences through open dialogue and negotiations. One of the reasons that has made India and Pakistan unable to have normal relations is the issue of terrorism. While the Indian side should provide credible evidence related to terror attacks, Pakistani authorities must also work with honesty and transparency to contain the elements that are engaged in cross-border terrorism. Supporting terrorism in any form and manifestation is detrimental to the healthy relations between the two nations, but also to the peace and stability in the entire South Asian region. Both the countries must acknowledge the fact that the ceasefire agreement risks becoming yet another temporary lull if sincere efforts to address the root causes of tension are not made. The leadership in both New Delhi and Islamabad must now act with foresight and responsibility. Common sense has prevailed—for now—to avert a full-fledged war. Let it guide the leadership of both nations toward a future where diplomacy, not drones and missiles, dictates peace and stability in our region.
