India and Pakistan Announce Cease-Fire After Days of Escalating Fighting

Four days of drone volleys and missile strikes between India and Pakistan, the most intense fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades, ended on Saturday when both countries agreed to a cease-fire, according to Indian, Pakistani and U.S. officials.

President Trump announced the cease-fire on his social media site, and said it had been mediated by the United States. Indian and Pakistani officials confirmed the cease-fire, though only Pakistan quickly acknowledged an American role.

“Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan said on social media.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior officials from both Pakistan and India, including their prime ministers, over 48 hours. In addition to the cease-fire, India and Pakistan also agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” Mr. Rubio said.

But the Indian government contradicted Mr. Rubio, saying the cease-fire had been worked out directly between India and Pakistan, and that there had been no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any location.