India and Pakistan engaged in the most intense fighting in decades with four days of escalating conflict that included fighter jets, missiles and drones packed with explosives. It ended almost as abruptly as it began.

The ceasefire had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes triggered by the mass shooting of tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan.

Top military operations officials of New Delhi and Islamabad spoke on hotline for the first time since New Delhi conducted Operation Sindoor to destroy nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK).

Indian sources have maintained that the decision to halt military action was taken following direct talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations, initiated by Pakistan.