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,

With last-minute U.S. mediation, cooler heads prevailed between India and Pakistan. But a flare-up is inevitable.

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.