Amid escalating conflict, accusations of continued strikes, and grave concerns that the two countries may engage in a full-out war, India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate cease-fire on Saturday, May 10,

Without that ceasefire, the subcontinent would likely have devolved into nuclear war sooner or later—a development that would have been catastrophic for the United States.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the Indian and US leadership were in touch during the tense standoff with Pakistan, but there was no conversation on trade.