India and Pakistan exchanged accusations of ceasefire violations early on Sunday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the two nuclear-armed neighbors had stepped back from the brink of full-scale war.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India had retaliated after Pakistan’s repeated violations of the ceasefire, while Pakistan responded by saying it “remains committed” to the ceasefire and that its forces were responding to violations with “responsibility and restraint”.
Fighting Along the Border
Reports from Srinagar, in Indian-administered Kashmir, described hearing loud explosions, and a senior official in Pakistani-administered Kashmir confirmed that intermittent gunfire was ongoing across the Line of Control (LoC), the disputed border region between the two countries.
No further details were immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims.
Trump’s Announcement of Ceasefire
The ceasefire came after days of intense fighting, including jet fighter attacks, missile strikes, drone attacks, and artillery fire that led to the deaths of at least 60 people and forced thousands to flee their homes. The ceasefire news was unexpectedly announced by President Trump on Saturday.
“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Congratulations to both countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
U.S. Mediation in Ceasefire Agreement
Trump continued to praise both leaders, saying, “It was time to stop the current aggression,” and also pledged to increase trade with both nations substantially. He also said he would work with both New Delhi and Islamabad to “see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be found on Kashmir.”
India’s foreign secretary had stated earlier that both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air, and sea” starting at 5:00 pm (1130 GMT) on Saturday.
Accusations of Violations
Despite the announcement, tensions remain high. India accused Pakistan of “repeated violations” of the ceasefire, with Misri claiming that the Indian armed forces were providing an “adequate and appropriate response.”
On the other hand, Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated that the country “remains committed to the faithful implementation of the ceasefire,” but added that Indian violations were being handled with restraint.
Background of the Conflict
The ongoing conflict was ignited by an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, which India blamed on Pakistan. India accused the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group, of carrying out the attack, but Pakistan denied involvement and called for an independent investigation.
The Ceasefire’s Fragility
Former Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the ceasefire seemed like a temporary situation, suggesting that it was prompted by U.S. mediation. He also claimed that India’s Operation Sindoor was a major success, targeting terrorists in the region.
Since 2019, militants have increased operations in Kashmir after India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked the region’s special autonomy and brought it under direct rule from New Delhi.
The Impact on Kashmiris
Locals in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, welcomed the ceasefire, with Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant, saying, “In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.”
In Srinagar, local resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious, stating, “The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant.”
International Reactions to the Ceasefire
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after discussions with senior officials from both India and Pakistan. Rubio also mentioned that both sides had agreed to start talks on a wide range of issues at a neutral site.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the U.S. intervention, stating that Pakistan has long sought international mediation on the Kashmir issue.
Concerns About Long-Term Peace
Observers remain skeptical about the ceasefire’s long-term success. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst based in the U.S., pointed out that the ceasefire seemed to have been “cobbled together hastily” and at a time when tensions were very high.
He added that India’s interpretation of the deal could differ from the U.S. and Pakistan, making it challenging to maintain the ceasefire.
Countries like Britain, Iran, and the United Nations welcomed the ceasefire, while China, which shares borders with both India and Pakistan, expressed concern and offered to play a constructive role in the region’s stability.