A few days after military escalation, fatal cross-border attacks, accusations and rebuttals, India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire and raised sharp concerns that the two nuclear-armed neighbors would be engaged in the fifth war since 1947.
However, a ceasefire violation was reported later on Saturday as an explosion occurred in parts of India-controlled Kashmir.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a briefing:
“This is a violation of today’s understanding. We call on Pakistan to take appropriate measures to address these violations and address the situation,” he said.
Misri added that Indian troops are given instructions to “strongly deal with” any violations.
However, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement early on Sunday in response to Misri’s comments, saying it was “still committed to the faithful implementation of Ceasefire.”
In a statement, Pakistan accused India of violating the ceasefire “in some regions.”
“In spite of the violations committed by India in some regions, our forces handle the situation with liability and restraint,” he said.
“We believe that the issues in the smooth implementation of ceasefires should be addressed through appropriate levels of communication. The troops on the ground must also exercise restraint,” the statement added.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also told Geo News that there were no breach of the contract.
Speaking to Washington-based security analyst Sahar Khan Al Jazeera, the reported ceasefire violations highlight how tenuous the peace along the LOC is. She noted that recent combat broke the ceasefire contract that reached in 2021, and is most important since 2003.
“It’s still a very sensitive and fragile ceasefire, but I think most people on the ground are relieved to see it,” Khan said. “The ceasefire agreement that came into effect in 2021 came into effect in 2023 and was still really vulnerable. So, I think this is good news, but I hope we’ll have some kind of interaction about this,” she added.
Earlier on Saturday, military officials from both countries discussed each other and agreed that all fighting would be stopped at 17:00 (11:30 GMT) in India on Saturday, halting all fire and operation by land, air and sea. This followed a fierce overnight exchange from Friday to Saturday.
Mithri said earlier that the two military chiefs will talk to each other again on May 12th.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif said later on Saturday he believes that the long-term dispute over water sharing between Kashmir and India will be resolved. “In the interest of everyone, we carried out this ceasefire agreement. We were very positive about it,” he said at his TV address.
Sharif has accused India of killing civilians and targeting the mosque in recent weeks with drone and missile attacks, calling the claims against Pakistan “baseless.”
“If anyone challenges Pakistan’s independence,” Sharif warned. “We’ll do anything to protect it,” he added.
The announcement of the ceasefire met scenes of relief and joy from residents of both countries and the residents of the conflict zones of Kashmir, which they each manage.
However, just hours after the announcement of the ceasefire, an explosion was heard in India-controlled Kashmir’s Srinagar city, which is managed by India, according to the federal territory prime minister Omar Abdullah. “What happened to the ceasefire? We heard an explosion in Srinagar,” Abdullah posted to X.
Reported from Lahore, Pakistan, Osamabin Javaid of Al Jazeera, said, “People are welcoming a ceasefire, but I remember how unstable it is.
“We have heard from local sources that there have been fire exchanges in multiple locations in the Kashmir region and that there have been some projectiles that have entered Pakistan’s airspace,” he said.
“We’ve also heard a big explosion in Srinagar, just like what we heard on Saturday and afternoon. All the air sirens are heading. There’s a power shutdown,” journalist Umar Meraj told Al Jazeera in Srinagar.
“You can see projectiles flying. Projectiles in the sky. It is very unknown whether they are missiles or will air defense these attacks. Similar reports of explosions are heard in Balamura and Jammu,” Meraj said.
Electricity was cut off in several areas, causing confusion. With no official clarification on the nature of the explosion, some residents felt “abandoned and unprepared.”
“One of the explosions was so powerful that it made the walls tremble. Authorities have not made clear what was going on. There are no shelters, and we didn’t hear sirens. We don’t know what to do. There’s only fear.”
Though ceasefires appear to be mediated by international actors, there are conflicting reports as to which countries played a key role.
US President Donald Trump claims it is the United States – he declared it in a true social post.
“Congratulations to both countries for using common sense and great intelligence,” he wrote.
“I have doubts about why the US first announced it: What leverage does India and Pakistan have? We were a multilateral attempt to get a ceasefire. More farther away,” said Al Jazeera’s Mike Hannah, reporting from Washington, DC.
However, Dar added to broadcaster Geo News that three dozen countries are involved in the diplomacy that Pakistan and India agreed to a “full” and “non-partial” ceasefire, and secured it.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement also includes plans for broader consultations at a neutral venue. This contradicts a statement released on social media by the Indian Ministry of Information.
The broader problem
Amidst the halt of hostilities, India and Pakistan also agree to a broader dialogue on a variety of issues.
Two government sources told news outlet Reuters that all measures India has taken against Pakistan since April 22, including trade and visas, remained there.
Reported from Lahore, Pakistan’s Osama bin Javyd, Al Jazeera’s report, said that for the Pakistan side, the water issue was “as India has suspended related treaties with Pakistan, which affects the country’s livelihoods and agriculture.”
Four government sources told Reuters that the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, remains suspended.
The treaty regulates the sharing of water from tributaries between the Indus River and South Asian countries. India was then pulled out last month. It is extremely important for both countries’ agriculture.
“There are real fundamental political issues that need to be addressed as we can’t find ourselves again in the militarized crisis,” Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the Stimson Centre’s South Asia Programme, told Al Jazeera.
“Timing is important at this point as there is a large current between India and Pakistan due to the season. But in a few months it will start to dry up,” she said.
India currently does not necessarily have an infrastructure that significantly decoups water, but low flows will provide its capacity. So, if both sides come together, it will have to be on the topic of discussion,” she added.
“God has been kind to us for now.”
Following the announcement of the ceasefire, residents on both sides of Kashmir’s line of control expressed relief, praying for a lasting solution to the Kashmir conflict.
“I was very worried about what was going on,” 25-year-old Rumatha Yang, a resident of India-controlled Srinagar, Kashmir, who is scheduled for her wedding next week, told Al Jazeera. “This is the wisest decision made after so many lives were lost. We want to bring all these hostilities to peace and end.”
Firdous Ahmad Sheikh, who runs the city’s travel agency, said he was unhappy with Kashmir becoming a “battlefield” by both countries.
“My only fear is that things could escalate again in the future. These countries must sit together and find a complete political solution to Kashmir.
“God has been kind to us for now.”
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Kashmir, controlled by Pakistan, residents welcome the ceasefire and hope to bring the much-anticipated relief to the region, which is bearing the brunt of repeated conflicts.
“For us, peace means survival,” said resident Zulfikar Ali. “We are struggling enough. We are pleased that both Pakistan and India have made wise decisions.”
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