ISLAMABAD/SRINAGAR: On Sunday morning (May 11), India and Pakistan found themselves back in a familiar cycle of accusations, each blaming the other for ceasefire violations just hours after a dramatic announcement by US President Donald Trump that the nuclear-armed neighbors had stepped back from the brink of full-scale war.
India’s foreign secretary responded by saying that India had retaliated after Pakistan repeatedly violated the ceasefire. On the other hand, Pakistan insisted that it remained “committed” to the truce, emphasizing that its forces were exercising “responsibility and restraint” in the face of violations by India.
In Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, AFP reporters heard loud explosions, while a senior official in Pakistani-administered Kashmir described the situation as one of “intermittent exchange of fire” across the heavily disputed Line of Control (LoC).
Details of the exchanges remained unclear, and the claims could not be independently verified. However, these developments followed a tense period marked by intense fighting between the two countries, which saw jets, missiles, drones, and artillery pummeling the region and claiming at least 60 lives. Thousands of civilians were forced to flee their homes as the violence ravaged the border areas and the divided Kashmir region.
The ceasefire had come unexpectedly on Saturday when President Trump announced that after a night of intense diplomacy, India and Pakistan had agreed to a “FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.” Trump praised both countries for demonstrating “Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
The agreement was to take effect at 5 pm (1130 GMT) with both sides pledging to halt all military actions, including land, air, and sea operations. However, India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri quickly accused Pakistan of “repeated violations” and stated that the Indian armed forces were responding “adequately and appropriately.”
Pakistan, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, stating that despite some violations by India, its forces were managing the situation “with responsibility and restraint.”
The fighting was sparked by a deadly attack last month on the Indian-administered side of Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, accusing the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group of being responsible, a charge Islamabad has vehemently denied, calling for an independent investigation.
The situation in Kashmir has been further complicated since 2019, when India’s Hindu nationalist government revoked the region’s autonomy, which had existed since India’s independence in 1947. The move heightened tensions and led to a surge in militant activity.
For some Kashmiris, the ceasefire brings a glimmer of hope. Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, expressed relief, stating, “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.”
However, in Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious. “The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to stay vigilant,” he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Vice President JD Vance, had engaged with senior officials from both sides, helping broker the ceasefire agreement. Rubio also noted that both countries had agreed to start talks on a wide range of issues at a neutral location.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan thanked the US for its role in mediating the ceasefire, while India, which has long opposed international mediation, seemed less enthusiastic about the broader talks that could follow.
Skepticism about the longevity of the ceasefire was echoed by Michael Kugelman, a US-based South Asia analyst, who noted, “The ceasefire was hastily cobbled together at a time when tensions were at their highest. It’s unclear if India, Pakistan, and the US all share the same interpretation of the agreement, and maintaining it could be challenging.”
Despite these concerns, the announcement of the ceasefire was welcomed internationally, with countries such as Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations, expressing relief. China, which shares borders with both India and Pakistan, also voiced its willingness to play a “constructive role” and expressed concern over any further escalation.
The situation remains fluid, with both hope and uncertainty hanging over the region as these two nuclear powers grapple with a fragile peace.
