BREAKING: Final MEA briefing: Indo-Pak agree to cease hostilities; Defence Ministry rubbishes Islamabad's false claims

In a significant development aimed at de-escalating rising tensions, India and Pakistan have agreed to halt all military action across land, air, and sea. The announcement was made by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who confirmed that a conversation took place earlier today between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries.

According to Misri, the Pakistani DGMO initiated the call at 15:35 hours, and both sides mutually agreed to cease all forms of military engagement starting at 17:00 hours Indian Standard Time. “Instructions have been issued to ground forces and units on both sides to ensure compliance with this understanding,” Misri stated. He further added that the DGMOs would review the implementation of this agreement in a follow-up conversation scheduled for May 12 at 1200 hours.

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The ceasefire agreement comes at a crucial time, following a period of intense military posturing and disinformation campaigns, particularly from Pakistan.

In the press briefing now, the Indian Defence Ministry firmly rejected Islamabad’s claims of damaging India’s S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence systems using JF-17 fighter jets. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, speaking on behalf of the ministry, categorically labelled the assertions as baseless and fabricated.

“There has been no damage to our defence infrastructure. The S-400 systems remain fully operational and combat-ready,” Colonel Qureshi said. She also addressed further allegations made by Pakistan regarding alleged Indian attacks on religious sites within its territory.

"India is a secular democracy that upholds the freedom of all faiths. Any insinuation that we would target places of worship is not only false but also an insult to our values," she added.

The Defence Ministry’s strong rebuttal is seen as an attempt to counter a rising tide of misinformation, allegedly being circulated by Pakistan to deflect attention from its internal challenges and military setbacks.

With the ceasefire now in effect and lines of communication open between senior military leaders, both nations appear to be taking cautious steps toward reducing hostilities. However, the atmosphere remains tense, and observers note that the real test will lie in the implementation and longevity of the ceasefire pact.

The upcoming DGMO-level talks on May 12 are expected to further clarify the way forward.