External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has confirmed that the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was achieved through direct military communication between the two countries, independent of third-party mediation. This followed India’s strong retaliatory action under Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians.
In an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar emphasized that while the United States and other global powers expressed concern and engaged diplomatically, the actual ceasefire was a result of a hotline message sent by the Pakistani military on May 10, requesting an end to firing, which India accepted.
“We made it clear to everyone—including the United States—that if Pakistan wanted to stop the firing, their general had to call our general and say so. That’s exactly what happened,” Jaishankar stated.
He confirmed that while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance communicated with Indian leadership during the heightened tensions, the decision to end military action was bilateral, with no intermediaries brokering the ceasefire.
Jaishankar detailed India’s calibrated military response under Operation Sindoor. After targeted strikes on UN-listed terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK, the Pakistani military responded with shelling and drone incursions, prompting India to escalate further.
“On May 10, we struck eight Pakistani airbases—crippling runways and command systems. This action made it clear that continued aggression would come at a cost, compelling Pakistan to agree to a cessation,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether Operation Sindoor is ongoing, the EAM clarified that while active military exchanges have ceased, the operation continues in principle.
“The message of Operation Sindoor is that India will respond decisively to any terrorist attack. The operation is ongoing in that spirit, but right now there is no cross-border firing.”
Jaishankar underlined that India’s response was strategic and restrained, focusing only on terror infrastructure and avoiding harm to civilian or military installations not linked to terrorism.
“We struck nine specific sites, all of which are on the UN list of terror facilities. These are the places where terrorists live and operate from,” he explained.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated cross-border shelling and drone-based attacks, prompting India’s counter-strikes on Pakistani airbases.
Following the intense four-day military exchange, the Pakistani military requested a ceasefire, marking a de-escalation of tensions. The forces on both sides have since been repositioned, and hostilities have ceased.
In conclusion, Jaishankar reiterated the Modi government’s clear doctrine of proactive defense and signaled that any future terror attack will be met with swift and targeted retaliation, sending a strong message to terror groups and their sponsors.