Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Ceasefire
A temporary or permanent suspension of fighting between warring parties, agreed through negotiation; a halt to armed hostilities that may or may not be accompanied by broader peace negotiations; distinct from a peace treaty, which involves formal and comprehensive conflict resolution
English cease (to stop, from Latin cessare) + fire (exchange of gunfire) — military usage from the early 20th century
"The April 9, 2026 ceasefire ending the 39-day US-Iran conflict — brokered through Pakistan's Islamabad Talks — was widely described as fragile, as Iran's 10-point peace plan included enrichment rights and sanctions relief that remain structurally unresolved."
Relevant for GS2 (IR — conflict resolution, diplomacy, UN mechanisms). Key distinctions: Ceasefire (temporary military halt) vs Armistice (formal military agreement, e.g., Korean War 1953) vs Peace Treaty (comprehensive settlement, e.g., Treaty of Westphalia 1648). Historical UPSC examples: India-Pakistan ceasefire (1965, 1971), Line of Control understanding (2021), Israel-Hamas ceasefires. UN Security Council Resolution is the typical mechanism for international ceasefire enforcement. Ceasefire violations are monitored by UN Military Observer Groups (e.g., UNMOGIP in Kashmir).
