Pakistan, India agree to temporary ceasefire until May 12 amid mounting tensions: Sources

Amid escalating hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan and India have agreed to a temporary ceasefire until the afternoon of May 12, highly placed sources revealed on Friday.

The development comes after intense diplomatic engagement, with foreign ministers of several friendly countries reportedly delivering India's messages of de-escalation and truce to Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister.

According to sources, Pakistan’s decision to pause hostilities was taken in the interest of regional peace and stability.

However, Islamabad has accused New Delhi of triggering the crisis through “persistent violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty” since May 7 — actions said to have pushed South Asia to the brink of a major military conflict.

“India’s aggressive moves, including drone and missile attacks, further inflamed an already volatile security environment,” one source said.

Notably, on the night between May 9 and 10, India allegedly launched missile strikes on several Pakistani air bases and airports.

In response, Pakistan invoked Article 51 of the United Nations Charter to justify its right to self-defense, asserting it could not and would not compromise on its sovereignty or territorial integrity.

“Our actions were meant to send a clear message: Pakistan has both the will and the capability to defend its people and its territory,” a source noted. “We’ve achieved our objectives and restored deterrence.”

Officials claim Pakistan has also effectively blocked India’s attempts to enforce a so-called “new normal” in bilateral relations by setting a precedent of unchecked cross-border aggression. They added that Islamabad would not allow any power, including India, to dictate terms or threaten regional peace.

The situation took a dire turn following India’s accusation that Pakistan was linked to the Pahalgam attack — a claim Pakistan says was made without credible evidence or investigation. On April 26, the Pakistani Prime Minister offered to allow independent investigators to probe the incident, but sources say India “chose confrontation over cooperation.”

“India’s actions since May 7 amount to acts of war under international law and are in clear violation of the UN Charter and norms of responsible state behaviour,” a source stated. “It’s unfortunate that such irresponsible adventurism has brought the region perilously close to open conflict.”

While global actors — including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — have repeatedly called for restraint, Pakistan asserts that India ignored these appeals and continued its belligerent behaviour.

Sources also revealed that Islamabad had alerted international partners about India’s intentions early in the crisis — concerns which, they now argue, have been fully vindicated.

“The world must hold India accountable,” the source urged, adding that peace in South Asia, home to one-fifth of the world’s population, cannot be held hostage to “New Delhi’s war madness.”

Despite the current pause in hostilities, Islamabad remains sceptical about India’s long-term intentions. “We want peace — but it must be based on mutual respect and non-aggression,” a source concluded. “Any future provocation will be met with a firm and proportionate response.”

 Reporter: Anwer Abbas