US Re-emerges as Key Peacemaker in Escalating India-Pakistan Conflict

Washington initially remained uninvolved as tensions between India and Pakistan soared. However, its strategic intervention in the escalating crisis has proven effective.

During a conflict riddled with misinformation, Muhammad Saleem became certain of its gravity when he witnessed a missile flying over his home on Thursday night. Moments later, the Indian missile struck a Pakistani air force base in Rawalpindi, sparking the most perilous escalation between the nuclear-armed adversaries yet.

Around 3am local time, Indian jets targeted the Nur Khan air base, along with two others, Murid and Rafiqi, citing an earlier wave of Pakistani attacks as justification. Dramatic footage of explosions lit up the night across Pakistani social media.

In Rawalpindi, a city known for housing the Pakistani military headquarters, residents flooded the streets, chanting slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad,” translating to “victory to Pakistan.”

“I saw the missile from the rooftop,” reported Mr Saleem, in his late 40s, to The Telegraph. “Several blasts occurred.”

Along with many others, he rushed to the site of the attacked Air Force base, originally constructed by the RAF during World War II. “God is great,” the onlookers shouted.

With flames still raging, Mr Saleem stated, “We saw a missile had hit the base area.”

At a 3:30am press briefing, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesman for Pakistan’s army, accused India of driving the region towards a perilous conflict with its “madness.”

He claimed that Pakistan’s air defenses managed to intercept all but a few Indian missiles that “slipped through” without causing damage. The Nur Khan base mainly houses transport and intelligence-gathering aircraft, not fighter jets.

Footage from a distant rooftop appeared to capture a fiery eruption upon impact.

Concluding his remarks, Mr Chaudhry issued a stern warning: “India must brace for Pakistan’s retaliation.”

In just over an hour, Pakistani air force jets launched Operation “Bunyam um-Marsoos,” a term from the Quran meaning “unbreakable wall of lead.”

Local journalists in Pakistan were briefed about the operation before its targets were confirmed, leaving the region tense and uncertain of the next developments.

A notice was also issued in Islamabad to close its airspace from 3:15am until midday Saturday.

“Targets are acquired and locked,” declared a popular anonymous social media account, suggesting strikes that would reverberate through generations.

The impact, another source claimed, would redefine India’s ideological foundation for decades.

Then came the counterattack. At 5:52am, Pakistani state media reported that their air force had targeted Indian air bases in Pathankot and Udhampur, along with a storage site for the Brahmos missile in Beas.

“An eye for an eye,” declared Pakistan’s military statement.

In Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, residents sought refuge from thundering explosions in their lower floors. “Two massive blasts shook the ground. Dust clouded the sky. I thought the airport was being bombed,” shared Wasim Ahmad.

“We’re accustomed to gunfire and mines, but this felt like imminent doom in the sky.”

Later, state TV reported the destruction of an Indian S-400 missile defense system valued at roughly $1 billion – a claim rapidly refuted by New Delhi.

With a brief moment to assess the situation, the damage appeared more retaliatory than catastrophic. Both nations could claim some degree of success. Civilian casualties remained undisclosed.

By 7am, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, expressed a willingness to de-escalate in a Geo News interview. “If they halt, so will we,” he stated. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed rumors about an urgent meeting of Pakistan’s National Command Authority, which oversees nuclear capabilities.

India echoed these sentiments. Their forces had delivered a “befitting reply” to Pakistani assaults on facilities in Kashmir, reported Colonel Sophia Qureshi.

“All hostile acts have been effectively countered,” asserted Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

This intense exchange marks the first time since the 1971 war that India and Pakistan have targeted each other’s military infrastructures with such intensity. Back then, neither had nuclear arsenals. The possibility of a large-scale war between nations capable of annihilating entire cities may have prompted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intervene and call for peace.

Under Donald Trump’s administration, America had mainly stood on the sidelines during the rising tensions. Vice President JD Vance referred to the conflict as “none of our business.” Mr. Trump described it as “a shame,” expressing a wish for the countries to resolve matters independently.

Indian officials informed The Telegraph that unlike past conflicts, there was no major influx of US envoys to New Delhi and Islamabad.

Mr. Rubio reached out to Dr. S Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and Asim Munir, the influential head of the Pakistani army.

A statement from the State Department noted Mr. Rubio’s offer to assist Mr. Munir in initiating “constructive dialogue” towards peace. Despite America’s intention to distance itself, it seems drawn into foreign affairs once more.

On Saturday afternoon, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a cabinet session to establish a new regional red line. Any terrorist act against India would be seen as an “act of war” by Pakistan, according to government insights shared with the Times of India.

Mr. Modi, reflecting the sentiment of many Indians, feels the country has tolerated violent acts on its soil for too long. Critics agree Islamabad has not done enough to combat terrorists, sometimes even supporting them.

In the Pahalgam incident in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, attackers demanded to know victims’ religions before harming any Hindus. “Inform your government. Tell Modi about our actions,” one gunman told a woman just after shooting her spouse point-blank.

As a committed Hindu nationalist, Mr. Modi vowed to ‘hunt [the terrorists] to the ends of the earth.’ Pakistan’s denials of participation in the attack did not sway him, nor did criticism suggesting he should alleviate pressure on Kashmir’s predominantly Muslim inhabitants.

His address to the cabinet on Saturday seemed to close the chapter on the violent episodes triggered by the Pahalgam attack, hinting at a potentially more aggressive response if similar incidents recur.

It seemed the US’s return to influencing foreign conflicts had a positive outcome.

At 5pm local time (8am in Washington), Mr. Trump astonished the global community by announcing a full ceasefire agreement. Despite previously appearing disinterested, he could now claim the title of peacemaker. It’s likely such diplomatic efforts will be needed again soon.