India and Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire Amid Explosions and Accusations

India and Pakistan have reached a ceasefire agreement after four days of intense cross-border military exchanges, marking the most severe escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in nearly three decades.

The truce, announced Saturday evening, came after a flurry of overnight diplomatic efforts led by the United States, but was quickly marred by reports of explosions in Kashmir and mutual accusations of violations.

The latest round of hostilities was triggered by a massacre of tourists last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” conducting strikes in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack and retaliated with its own military operations.

The ceasefire was announced after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Washington had mediated overnight talks, citing “alarming intelligence” that spurred urgent intervention.

While Pakistan’s Prime Minister praised the U.S. role, Indian officials downplayed Washington’s involvement, emphasizing that military leaders from both countries had communicated directly to halt hostilities.

Despite the ceasefire, residents and authorities reported explosions in Srinagar and Jammu within hours of the agreement taking effect, with projectiles lighting up the night sky. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accused Pakistan of violating the new truce, urging Islamabad to take “necessary measures” to restore calm.

Pakistan’s Information Minister, meanwhile, insisted there had been no breaches and called for restraint and communication between the two militaries.

The recent conflict has left at least 66 civilians dead and raised fears of a wider war, with both sides exchanging drone, missile, and artillery strikes.

Although the ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to the fighting, punitive measures such as trade suspensions, visa cancellations, and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty remain in place, reflecting the depth of mistrust between the two countries.

International actors, including China, the G7, and the United Nations, welcomed the ceasefire and called for sustained de-escalation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that India and Pakistan had agreed to broader discussions at a neutral venue, though Indian officials denied any plans for talks beyond the ceasefire itself.

For now, the ceasefire offers a fragile respite to millions living along the contested border, but the underlying issues in Kashmir remain unresolved. As one resident of Srinagar put it, “We desire peace and an end to these hostilities.” Whether this truce will hold or give way to renewed violence remains uncertain.