ISLAMABAD – A ceasefire agreement was reached between India and Pakistan on Saturday following U.S.-mediated discussions aimed at resolving the most significant military standoff between the nuclear neighbors in recent memory. Despite the deal, both nations quickly accused each other of breaching the terms.
Expected to end an escalating series of confrontations—ranging from missile exchanges to drone attacks—precipitated by a deadly attack on tourists in the previous month, the ceasefire seemed like a step toward peace. However, mere hours after the agreement, residents in two major cities within the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir reported multiple explosions.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri voiced concerns late on Saturday, stating there were frequent violations of the newly forged understanding, with claims that Pakistan violated the deal. “We urge Pakistan to take necessary measures to deal with these breaches responsibly and seriously,” he declared at a press briefing in New Delhi, noting that India’s military was responding to what he termed a “border intrusion.”
Conversely, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in Islamabad pointed the finger back at Indian forces, accusing them of initiating ceasefire breaches. Committed to the terms of the agreement, the ministry assured that its forces were handling the situation with care. “Communication at suitable levels is crucial to resolving any hiccups in the ceasefire’s implementation,” the ministry advised.
The initial announcement of the truce came from U.S. President Donald Trump via a post on his social media platform, stating, “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Earlier on Saturday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed in a speech that the ceasefire was a step in the interest of regional peace, with hopes for resolving lingering issues with India, especially regarding Kashmir, through dialogue.
Misri highlighted that top military officials from both countries spoke that afternoon, agreeing to halt military actions across land, air, and sea. Yet, explosions rocked Srinagar and Jammu in Indian-controlled Kashmir just hours later, inducing power outages in the cities and spreading immediate alarm.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s highest elected authority, shared his disbelief on social media, exclaiming: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”
Clashes between India and Pakistan, both independent since the partition from British India in 1947, are not new. However, the recent ceasefire followed an intense exchange of cross-border missile strikes after India claimed to have targeted Pakistani air bases in retaliation for missiles fired by Pakistan at military and civilian sites in India’s Punjab state. Pakistan, in turn, responded with counter-attacks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that over the previous 48 hours, along with Vice President JD Vance, they held discussions with senior officials from both nations, including talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir. Rubio stated both governments agreed to negotiations on a wide array of issues at a neutral venue.
Initially, Pakistanis celebrated their military response with a sense of national pride, yet the ceasefire was welcomed as a significant relief. In Islamabad, resident Zubaida Bibi expressed her joy, emphasizing that “War brings nothing but suffering” and portraying her happiness as akin to an Eid celebration – a time of peace and victory for their nation.
Prior to the truce, tensions had surged dramatically following an attack at a tourist site in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which resulted in 26 civilian deaths, predominantly Indian Hindu visitors. Prior to the ceasefire agreement, India accused Pakistan of targeting vital facilities, including health centers and schools at its three air bases in Kashmir. India responded with missile attacks on Pakistani air bases in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and Jhang, according to Pakistan’s military spokesperson.
Pakistan countered with strikes on an Indian missile storage facility and air bases in the cities of Pathankot and Udhampur. However, independent verification of these military actions was not immediately available.
After Pakistan’s retaliation announcement, residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir reported hearing loud blasts at various locations, including Srinagar, Jammu, and Udhampur, hinting at the chaos that had erupted. “Explosions today sound distinct from those during past drone attacks,” noted Shesh Paul Vaid, former top police official in Jammu, suggesting it felt like a war zone.
Residents near Srinagar’s airport, also a military air base, were alarmed by the explosions and the noise of aircraft. Mohammed Yasin from Srinagar described the impact on his family: “The blasts woke my children, causing them to cry.”
Despite welcoming the ceasefire, Omar Abdullah regretted the timing, stating that if such an agreement had emerged earlier, it might have averted the bloodshed and spared lives.