It's complicated: India and Pakistan agree on ceasefire in Kashmir

New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to an immediate US-brokered ceasefire, although its durability was called into question after reports of cross-border shootings and explosions in Indian-administered Kashmir just hours after the ceasefire was announced.

The ceasefire, which was hoped to end days of escalating clashes between the two nuclear-armed countries, was first announced by US President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon, following 48 hours of diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan, apparently brokered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance, The Guardian reports.

Trump wrote in a post on the social media platform Truth: “After a long night of negotiations brokered by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE ceasefire. Congratulations to both countries for their common sense and intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The ceasefire was later confirmed in a social media post by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Darom, who said the ceasefire would come into effect "immediately."

Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said the military chiefs of both countries held talks on Saturday afternoon. “It was agreed that both sides would cease all firing and military activities on land, air and sea. Instructions were given by both sides to implement this agreement.” Misri added that the top military officials would deliver a further speech on May 12.

But the agreement was thrown into doubt after Indian and Pakistani forces resumed firing across the border on Saturday evening. Srinagar, the main city in Indian-administered Kashmir, was also rocked by powerful explosions from shells flying across the border.

On Saturday evening, Misri said the Indian military had been instructed to "respond strongly" to all violations.

An Indian government source told AFP that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire. A senior Pakistani security source said it was India that had started violating the ceasefire.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said early on Sunday that it "remains committed to observing in good faith" the ceasefire it agreed to with India.

Accusing India of violating the accords, Pakistan's Foreign Office said the country's armed forces were "handling the situation responsibly and with restraint." It added: "We believe that any issues related to the implementation of the ceasefire should be resolved through communication at the appropriate levels. Troops on the ground should also exercise restraint."

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said the cease-fire agreement came after extensive talks he and Vance held with Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, as well as other senior officials. “I am pleased to announce that the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate cease-fire and to begin broad-based negotiations on neutral ground,” Rubio said. “We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” he added.

News of the ceasefire was greeted with jubilation across India and Pakistan, particularly in Kashmir, the disputed region divided between the two countries that has been on the front lines of fighting, with dozens killed in shelling along the border known as the Line of Control (LoC) last week.

In Uri, near the border in Indian-administered Kashmir, one of the towns worst hit by the recent cross-border clashes, Tanvir Chalko, 30, described scenes of jubilation. “When the ceasefire was announced, the displaced families in the camps started dancing with joy,” he said. “This is a big step towards peace and welfare for the people. As a border resident, I cannot express in words what this announcement means to us. Everyone is now preparing to return home.”

But Lal Din, 55, a resident of Poonch, a border town in Indian-administered Kashmir where many have been killed and injured in clashes along the line of contact this week, said news of the ceasefire was bittersweet. His home had been destroyed by cross-border shelling and two of his relatives had been killed.

"We have seen this before - temporary ceasefires brokered by world powers. But until India and Pakistan seriously resolve their disputes, we must brace ourselves for more conflicts," said a Kashmiri.

But those who had gathered on the streets to celebrate were then driven indoors when explosions began to ring out in parts of Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday evening.

Historically, the US has played a major role as a mediator between India and Pakistan when hostilities flare up, The Guardian reports. But the Trump administration’s active role in brokering peace was a marked shift from Vance’s stance 48 hours earlier, when he said the US would not intervene in the India-Pakistan conflict because it was “not our business.”

The ceasefire gave both sides an opportunity to claim victory. “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stand against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” said Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

In Pakistan, the ceasefire announcement was also met with cheers. “I congratulate the civilian and military leadership for emerging from the war with dignity, professionalism and unwavering national resolve,” said Pakistani parliamentarian Sherry Rehman.

The truce came after India and Pakistan accused each other of launching cross-border missile strikes on important military installations on Saturday, with many fearing it could escalate into a full-scale war. India and Pakistan have fought four wars, the most recent in 1999.

This week's fighting first flared up on Wednesday after Indian missiles struck nine targets in Pakistan, killing 31 people. India said the strikes were in retaliation for an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir late last month in which militants killed 25 Hindu tourists and a tour guide, which was blamed on Pakistan-backed extremists.

The situation has become even more tense after India accused Pakistan of carrying out two consecutive overnight drone attacks. India said it intercepted more than 400 drones on Thursday targeting cities, military bases and places of worship in the north of the country. In retaliation, India said it carried out four drone strikes in Pakistan that directly targeted military and defence infrastructure.

By Saturday morning, India had accused Pakistan of striking dozens of air bases and military headquarters across northern India using long-range weapons, drones and fighter jets. The accusations came hours after Pakistan said India had fired six surface-to-air missiles at three of Pakistan's key military bases early Saturday. Both sides have accused each other of being the first to launch cross-border missiles.