A Pakistani government source familiar with the negotiations that led to a truce with India said that the United States played a crucial role in them.
The agreement came after an intense day of fighting that left both sides fearing the tit-for-tat strikes could spiral out of control, the source told CNN, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Shock over strikes: The source said both sides were progressing toward an agreement on Friday, but said that Islamabad was blindsided by New Delhi’s targeting three Pakistani air bases with air-to-surface missiles early Saturday morning local time.
Pakistan’s government believed that a diplomatic off-ramp had been close and was shocked by the strikes, the source said.
In response, Pakistan fired back a much bigger salvo that targeted air bases in India, as well as military targets near the line of control in the disputed Kashmir region. “An eye for an eye,” the Pakistani military said in a statement Saturday morning.
The source said that New Delhi had been shocked by the scale of Pakistan’s response, and that both sides then “got serious” about engaging in peace talks later Saturday.
Even as the talks kicked into high gear, the source said India fired more rockets, with Pakistan responding. But US assurances meant that the talks continued, the source added.
US steps in: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a “monumental role” in mediating the discussions, according to the source, who said that officials from Saudi Arabia and Turkey were also involved.
By mid-afternoon, neither side had launched fresh strikes. Two hours later, the ceasefire was announced, the source said.
The source was not sure how Rubio convinced India to agree to the deal. Indian officials have, however, downplayed the influence of US officials in brokering the agreement, with a source saying the truce was worked out “directly” with Pakistan.
