Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has emerged as a resolute figure amid escalating tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. India attributes the attack to The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, and criticizes Pakistan for opposing TRF's designation in UN statements. Misri highlighted Pakistan's harboring of terrorists, referencing Osama bin Laden's presence there. India's response included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and launching Operation Sindoor. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10, both nations accuse each other of violations. Misri is scheduled to brief the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on May 19, underscoring India's firm stance on regional security and counterterrorism. (PC: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Monday that India has only "paused" military action against Pakistan, vowing retaliation on India’s terms if provoked again. This comes after a US-brokered ceasefire, announced by President Trump, halted a week of escalating hostilities, including missile and drone attacks. Modi emphasized that India remains vigilant and rejected any narrative crediting foreign mediation, insisting it was Pakistan that sought a ceasefire. He warned against “nuclear blackmail” and affirmed future talks, if any, would focus on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has since reopened 32 northern airports and begun defusing unexploded ordnance near the border.

On May 12, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his administration brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade relations. He stated that Washington threatened to halt trade with both nations if they didn't agree to a ceasefire, emphasizing that "trade is a big one" in achieving peace. Trump praised the leadership of both countries for their strength and wisdom in resolving the conflict. However, Indian sources indicated that trade was not mentioned in discussions with the U.S. during the crisis. There was no immediate response from India's external affairs ministry regarding Trump's remarks. The ceasefire followed Operation Sindoor, India's retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. (PC: Profit by Pakistan Today)

On May 12, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, declaring that India will not tolerate any form of nuclear blackmail. He emphasized that India's recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, was a precise response to thwart Pakistan's cross-border terror plans. Although the operation has been paused, Modi warned that India remains vigilant and ready to act if provoked again. He stated that dialogue with Pakistan is contingent upon the cessation of terrorism. The Prime Minister highlighted India's commitment to peace but affirmed that any threats to its sovereignty would be met with decisive action. This stance underscores India's firm policy against terrorism and nuclear intimidation.

On May 10, 2025, two Indian students from Cleveland, Ohio, lost their lives in a tragic car crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lancaster County. The victims, identified as 23-year-old Saurav Prabhakar and 20-year-old Manav Patel, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Lancaster County Coroner's Office. The cause of death was determined to be multiple traumatic injuries, and their deaths have been officially ruled as accidental. The incident has deeply affected the Indian student community in the U.S., highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by international students abroad. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. (PC: iStock)

India and Pakistan's Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) held crucial talks on Monday to solidify a ceasefire agreement reached on May 10. The meeting, delayed from noon to 5 PM, addressed mutual commitments to halt all military aggression across land, air, and sea. The Indian Army confirmed discussions on troop reduction along forward areas. This initiative followed four days of intense cross-border hostilities, triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor against terror sites in Pakistan. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced by President Trump, violations ensued with drone activity reported in northern India. Both sides reaffirmed a commitment to sustained peace. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a national address, declared Operation Sindoor as a new normal in India’s fight against terrorism, warning Pakistan of zero tolerance towards terror. He asserted that India had only paused, not ended, its military operations and was monitoring Pakistan’s actions. The PM confirmed over 100 terrorists were eliminated, calling Muridke and Bahawalpur “universities of terror.” He stated no talks or trade would proceed without Pakistan dismantling its terror infrastructure. Emphasizing national security, Modi saluted the armed forces and affirmed that India would respond to terror decisively, rejecting nuclear blackmail and reaffirming strength as a path to peace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on May 12, declared that “every terrorist now knows the consequence of wiping sindoor off our women,” referring to India's powerful response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Codenamed Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliation included precise drone and missile strikes on terror hubs inside Pakistan, killing over 100 militants and crippling key infrastructure. Modi praised the armed forces for their bravery and said the operation sent a global message on India’s zero tolerance for terror. He warned Pakistan against nuclear blackmail and stressed that while strikes are paused, vigilance remains high. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration helped broker a “full and immediate” ceasefire between India and Pakistan, potentially averting a nuclear conflict. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed credit for stopping what he called a “bad nuclear war,” saying millions could have died without US intervention. The ceasefire, declared on Saturday, follows rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. “We stopped a nuclear conflict,” Trump said, calling the development historic. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy and praised both countries for cooperating to prevent further escalation. The international community has welcomed the ceasefire agreement. (PC: AFP)

Top army officials of India and Pakistan spoke on the hotline for the first time since the May 10 ceasefire deal. The talk, delayed from noon, ended around 5 pm. They discussed the plan to stop fighting along the Line of Control and other areas. This comes after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The mission targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and POK after the deadly Pahalgam attack. Both countries later agreed to stop all military actions on land, air, and sea. The outcome of today’s talk is not yet known, say sources. (PC: India Today)