In a surprise move, India and Pakistan said they had agreed a ceasefire to end the worst fighting between the two countries for more than two decades.
US President Donald Trump claimed credit for the agreement in a social media post, saying: “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.”
Behind the scenes
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, said in the 48 hours running up to the ceasefire he and vice-president JD Vance had engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” Rubio said.
Change in direction
Prior to the announcement, commentators were predicting an escalation in the conflict between two “religious strongmen.”
Kashmir has been a point of contention since partition in 1947 with neither side willing to accede.
Interestingly, since the 1970s conflict, which resulted in the formation of Bangladesh, it was the US that supported Pakistan with weapons to prevent the Russians from securing a passage to the Arabian Sea from Afghanistan.
Today, Chinese weapons support the Pakistani government. The Chinese have the same aspirations as the Russians once did.
In the 1970s it was Russian military support that helped the Indians win many of its conflicts. Student exchanges between the USSR and India were commonplace. Today, the Americans provide most of the military support India needs along with France and Israel. Same old disagreement – different protagonists.
