India-Pakistan ceasefire faces strain after violations, talks planned

KATHMANDU: India and Pakistan agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” on Saturday, May 10, following days of intense cross-border clashes, but the truce was marred by reported violations within hours. The agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, came after a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians and triggered India’s military operation “Sindoor” targeting militant sites in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the ceasefire, effective from 5 p.m. local time, after a call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations. However, India accused Pakistan of violating the agreement, citing artillery shelling and drone attacks in Srinagar, Jammu, and along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor, Rajouri, and Palanwalla sectors. Misri stated that Indian forces were responding “adequately and appropriately” to the breaches.

Pakistan denied the allegations, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar calling Indian claims “baseless” and asserting Pakistan’s commitment to the truce. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry accused India of violations in some areas, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Trump and allies like China and Turkey for supporting the ceasefire, without addressing the reported breaches.

The ceasefire followed U.S.-mediated talks involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, who engaged with Indian and Pakistani leaders, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif. Trump hailed the agreement as a triumph of “common sense,” while Rubio claimed it included plans for broader talks at a neutral site. However, India clarified that no such discussions were agreed upon beyond a DGMO call scheduled for May 12 at noon.

Tensions escalated after India’s strikes on militant targets linked to the Pahalgam attack, prompting Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling. Explosions and drone sightings in Srinagar and Jammu, alongside a blackout in Kathua, heightened fears of further escalation. In Rajasthan’s Barmer, authorities issued an air raid alert. Indian air defenses intercepted objects, and the Border Security Force was directed to respond forcefully to violations.

Global reactions welcomed the truce but urged vigilance. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas called it a “vital step toward de-escalation,” while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, advocated for dialogue to achieve a lasting ceasefire.

Analysts expressed skepticism about the ceasefire’s durability, noting its hasty arrangement amid peak tensions.

Posts on X reflected Indian frustration, citing Pakistan’s history of terrorism and unease over Trump’s sudden announcement. Both nations claim strategic victories, which experts suggest could complicate adherence.
In India, Prime Minister Modi met with top officials, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, to review the situation. Security measures intensified, with 32 airports shut until May 14 and a ban on firecrackers in Mumbai until June 9. Jammu and Kashmir remained calm overnight, but search operations continued for intruders.

The ceasefire offers a fragile pause in the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, but mutual accusations and unresolved issues, including the Indus Waters Treaty, cast doubts on its longevity.