A ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which held overnight into Sunday, followed accusations of “violations” by both nations just hours after the US-brokered deal was reached.
Days of cross-border military strikes had preceded the agreement, marking the worst confrontation between the two rivals in decades.
US President Donald Trump, in fresh comments on Sunday morning, praised the leaders of India and Pakistan for agreeing to the ceasefire, noting that millions of lives could have been lost without it.
Explosions were reported in Indian-administered Kashmir hours after the deal was announced, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the agreement.
The conflict began when India conducted strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam last month, which Pakistan denies involvement in.
On Saturday, Trump announced the “full and immediate” ceasefire on his Truth Social Platform, stating it was brokered by the US.
Pakistan’s foreign minister confirmed the agreement, noting that “three dozen countries” were involved in the diplomatic efforts.
However, hours later, residents and BBC reporters in Srinagar and Jammu, major cities in Indian-administered Kashmir, reported hearing explosions and seeing flashes in the sky.
Indian Foreign Secretary Misri accused Pakistan of “repeated violations” of the ceasefire, stating that India’s armed forces would respond appropriately.
A spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the deal, despite “violations being committed by India in some areas,” urging troops to “exercise restraint.”
Kashmir, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but partially administered by each since the 1947 partition following independence from the UK, has been a longstanding flashpoint, sparking two wars between the nuclear-armed nations.
India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, confirmed the ceasefire, stating that both nations had reached an understanding to stop firing and military action.
He emphasized India’s “firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” adding that this policy would continue.
In a national address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire was reached “for the benefit of everybody.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to begin talks on a broad range of issues at a neutral site.
Rubio revealed that he and US Vice-President JD Vance had spent 48 hours engaging with senior officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif.
In another Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump reiterated praise for the leaders of India and Pakistan for recognizing it was “time to stop the current aggression.”
He added, “I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed “all efforts to de-escalate the conflict.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer noted that the UK had been “engaged” in talks for “some days,” with Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaking to both sides.
“I’m pleased to see today that there’s a ceasefire,” Sir Keir said. “The task now is to make sure that that is enduring and is lasting.”
The recent escalation followed two weeks of tension after a militant attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, killed 26 tourists, including 25 Indians and one Nepali.
Survivors reported that the militants targeted Hindu men.
India’s defence ministry said its strikes this week were part of a “commitment” to hold those responsible for the attack “accountable.” Pakistan called the strikes “unprovoked.”
Pakistan reported that Indian air strikes and cross-border fire since Wednesday killed 36 people in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while India’s army reported at least 21 civilian deaths from Pakistani shelling.
Fighting intensified overnight on Friday, with both nations accusing each other of targeting airbases and other military sites.
