India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after U.S.-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades
Explosions have been heard in India-controlled Kashmir just hours after a ceasefire deal was agreed. Artillery shelling and drone strikes were reported in Indian held territory.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” on ceasing fire and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement." He added at a news conference in New Delhi: "The armed forces are maintaining a strong vigil on the situation. They have been given instructions to deal strongly with any instances of repetition of the violations of the border along the International Border as well as the Line of Control." Misri said the Indian army was “retaliating” for what he called a “border intrusion.”
Trump had previously announced the ceasefire, praising the result after US mediated talks.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "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. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
A Kashmiri villager and a rescue worker examine damages to a house caused by overnight Indian shelling ( Image: AP)
The deal had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the massacre of tourists by gunmen last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge. Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides since then. But multiple explosions were heard in two large cities of India-controlled Kashmir hours after the countries agreed to the deal.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the truce on Geo News, saying that Saudi Arabia and Turkey played an important role in facilitating the deal.
A Kashmiri family watches towards the sky as projectiles fly over the sky in Indian controlled Kashmir ( Image: AP)
Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon and top military leaders will speak again Monday.
“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea. Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding,” he said.
The conflict erupted after a gun massacre on April 22 at a popular tourist site in Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, mostly Hindu Indian tourists.
Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ( Image: AP)
Conflict between India and Pakistan is not rare, with the two countries having periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.
The ceasefire in the latest hostilities came after the countries fired volleys of cross-border missile strikes Saturday, when India said it targeted Pakistani air bases after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at military and civilian infrastructure in Punjab state. Pakistan said it responded with retaliatory strikes.
A flare goes up in air over the hill near main town of Poonch district ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior officials from both countries over the past 48 hours. They included Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
