Description

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Context

India and Pakistan recently agreed to a ceasefire following military escalations along the Line of Control. The agreement was reached through a DGMO-level communication and included stopping all military action from land, air and sea.

What is a Ceasefire?

Definition

According to The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law by Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier: A ceasefire is an agreement that regulates the termination of all military activity for a given length of time in a given area.

Characteristics

Temporary suspension of hostilities (a truce) not a peace treaty.

Applicable to both international and non-international armed conflicts.

Does not end the legal state of war.

Ceasefire vs Truce vs Armistice vs Peace Treaty

Term	Nature	Legally Binding?	Ends Hostilities?	Ends State of War?
Ceasefire	Temporary suspension	Not always	Yes	No
Truce	Synonym of ceasefire	No	Yes	No
Armistice	Formal suspension	Yes	Yes	No
Peace Treaty	Formal agreement to end war	Yes	Yes	Yes

What Do Ceasefire Agreements Typically Include?

Specifies exact date and time.

Prohibited Acts

Military: Direct hostilities, incursions.

Non-Military: Threats, propaganda.

Demarcation of ceasefire lines or buffer zones.

Monitoring Mechanisms

May involve UN peacekeepers, Joint Monitoring Commissions, or Ceasefire Commissions.

Humanitarian Provisions

Return of POWs, IDPs, refugees.

Restitution, compensation for damages.

Ceasefire Under International Law

Not a Peace Agreement

Does not create binding legal peace obligations.

Seen as a transitional step toward peace.

Breach of Ceasefire

Governed by the Hague Regulations (1907):

Article 36: If no duration is fixed, hostilities may resume with due warning.

Article 40: A serious breach gives the other party the right to denounce it or resume hostilities.

Article 41: Private violations may lead to demand for punishment or compensation.

India-Pakistan Ceasefire in Historical Perspective

1972 Simla Agreement: Emphasized peaceful resolution and LoC respect.

2003 Ceasefire Agreement: First formal commitment to stop cross-border firing.

2021 Reaffirmation: DGMOs agreed to strict observance of all agreements.

2025 Declaration: Follows a week of military tension and drone activity.

Sources:

INDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. “Ceasefire agreements between India and Pakistan have historically functioned more as conflict management tools than as pathways to durable peace.” Critically examine in the context of international law and regional geopolitics. 250 words