In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate ceasefire" after four days of intense cross-border clashes. This announcement came after efforts by US mediators, diplomatic backchannels, and regional players, which were crucial in de-escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Despite the ceasefire agreement, both India and Pakistan accused each other of fresh violations shortly after, highlighting the fragile nature of the truce. India claimed that Pakistan had committed "repeated violations," whereas Pakistan maintained its commitment to the ceasefire, asserting that its forces demonstrated "responsibility and restraint." The situation had been escalating since a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists last month. In response, India launched airstrikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, leading to several days of aerial clashes, artillery exchanges, and accusations from both sides of missile strikes on one another's airbases. The rhetoric from both countries intensified, with each claiming to have inflicted significant damage while thwarting the other's attacks. Tanvi Madan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that a call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir on May 9 may have been a pivotal moment in de-escalating the situation. Madan observed that while the specific roles of various international actors remain unclear, it is evident that the US, the UK, and Saudi Arabia were all working to defuse the crisis. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar indicated that around three dozen countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, were involved in the diplomatic efforts. Madan suggested that an earlier intervention might have prevented the escalation if diplomatic channels had been activated immediately after India’s initial strikes when Pakistan was already claiming some Indian losses. This incident is not the first time US mediation has played a crucial role in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in his memoir, recounted being awoken to communicate with an unnamed Indian counterpart who feared Pakistan was preparing nuclear weapons during the 2019 standoff. However, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria later remarked that Pompeo may have overstated both the risk of nuclear escalation and the US's role in calming the conflict. Diplomats acknowledge that the US was a significant external player in resolving the current crisis. Bisaria commented that even though the US might exaggerate its role, it likely played the primary diplomatic role, potentially amplifying Delhi's positions in Islamabad. Initially, though, the US appeared reluctant to intervene, with US Vice President JD Vance stating on Thursday that the US would not get involved in a conflict that was "fundamentally none of our business." He emphasized that America could not compel either India or Pakistan to cease hostilities and would continue to pursue diplomatic channels. President Trump expressed his desire for both leaders of India and Pakistan to resolve their differences and cease hostilities. This hands-off approach marked a notable difference from previous US interventions. According to Ejaz Haider, a Lahore-based defense analyst, the American role was consistent with past patterns, but this time they initially observed the crisis before stepping in to manage it. As tensions escalated, Pakistan sent "dual signals" by retaliating militarily while also announcing a National Command Authority (NCA) meeting, which emphasized the nuclear aspect of the conflict. The NCA is responsible for Pakistan's nuclear weapons decisions. This was around the time when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio became more actively involved. Ashley J. Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that the US's involvement was indispensable, and the outcome would not have been possible without Rubio's efforts. Washington's deepening ties with Delhi also played a role in the diplomatic process. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relationship with Trump, along with the US's broader strategic and economic interests, provided the US administration with diplomatic leverage to encourage both nuclear-armed rivals towards de-escalation. Indian diplomats identified three key peace initiatives that were similar to those after the Pulwama–Balakot incident in 2019. Despite initial reluctance, the US eventually became an essential mediator between India and Pakistan, much like in previous crises. Experts believe that the US's role as a crisis manager in South Asia remains vital yet complicated. While some may argue that the US's involvement is overst