UK, Turkey & Saudi pitched in with WhatsApp diplomacy, says Pakistan minister Ishaq Dar post ceasefire
He added: 'COAS Asim Munir had a huge role to play in the discussions along with PM Shehbaz Sharif.'
'We jointly agreed [on ceasefire] but obviously, these countries were involved. This background diplomacy, WhatsApp diplomacy, has been going on today,' Dar said.
New Delhi: After India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar in an interview to Pakistani news channel GeoTV said, '(Army chief) Asim Munir had a huge contribution to ceasefire talks', along with UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with whom extensive talks were held in the past 24 hours.
Dar further added that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India was 'full-fledged', not a partial one and would apply 'all across, everywhere'.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said a ceasefire was established between the two neighbours at 1700 hours IST (4:30pm PKT).
'The DGMO of Pakistan called DGMO of India at 15:35 hours (3:05pm PKT) earlier this afternoon. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 1700 hours IST (4:30pm PKT),' he said during a press briefing. 'Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.'
He added that the DGMOs would 'talk again on 12 May at 1200 hours (11:30am PKT)'.
He added that while three dozen active diplomatic contacts were made post April, the ones mentioned above were proactive these 24 hours.
After US President Donald Trump first announced that a 'full and immediate ceasefire' had been agreed to by both countries, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that over the past 48 hours, he and US Vice-President J.D. Vance held discussions with senior officials from both India and Pakistan. These included Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif and Narendra Modi, Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Lt Gen Asim Malik.
'I am pleased to announce the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to commence talks on a broad range of issues at a neutral location,' Rubio wrote on X.
He added, 'We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace.'
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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