With a surprise ceasefire agreement announced on May 10 between India and Pakistan, questions are now swirling across media and public discourse—did Pakistan effectively surrender to India under international pressure?
Ceasefire after days of escalated hostilities
After days of high-intensity cross-border conflict that saw Indian Armed Forces neutralising drones, launching precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, and inflicting heavy losses on terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistan reached out first to initiate peace.
In the evening press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that at 3:35 PM IST, the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart, requesting cessation of hostilities. By 5:00 PM IST, both sides agreed to immediate cessation of all military actions—land, air, and sea.
Misri emphasized that India’s actions were measured, defensive, and proportionate, whereas Pakistan repeatedly escalated, targeted civilians, and engaged in misinformation campaigns.
India’s diplomatic and military advantage
While India did not officially frame the ceasefire as a surrender, multiple indicators point to India holding the strategic and moral upper hand:
-
Indian Armed Forces remained in complete operational control, with no damage to any military installations, despite Pakistan’s exaggerated claims.
-
India confirmed eliminating multiple top terrorists, including kin of Maulana Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership, in targeted strikes.
-
Pakistan’s retaliatory attempts failed, with Indian air defence systems shooting down kamikaze drones and neutralising missile threats across 26 locations.
Global pressure on Pakistan
Adding to the weight, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full ceasefire. He credited “great intelligence and common sense” and praised both Prime Ministers for their wisdom. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio further confirmed the role of American diplomatic intervention, revealing that talks were held with PM Modi, Shehbaz Sharif, NSA Ajit Doval, and other top officials from both sides.
Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar also confirmed the ceasefire publicly, though he tried to frame it as a mutual agreement for peace.
However, Indian sources later clarified: “The ceasefire understanding was reached directly between DGMOs, with no other negotiations scheduled at any neutral venue.” This clarified that Pakistan’s overtures came after sustained military pressure, and that India made no concessions beyond agreeing to pause fire.
MOD to hold a special briefing
Following the MEA’s fourth briefing of the day, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is set to address the nation again on Operation Sindoor and India’s strategic posture after the ceasefire. The briefing is expected to cover operational aspects, deterrence, and readiness going forward.
While Pakistan hasn’t officially “surrendered,” the sequence of events—from military failures to diplomatic backpedaling—points to Pakistan blinking first. India maintained control, dictated terms through strength, and demonstrated both military superiority and international support.
Commodore Raghu R Nair said in the last briefing, “While we will be adhering to the understanding that is the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, we remain fully prepared and vigilant and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland. Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength. Every future escalation will invite a decisive response. We remain fully operationally ready to launch whatever operations may be required in defence of the nation”
Ahmedabad Plane Crash