A delicate ceasefire between India and Pakistan held firm on Sunday, following intense overnight clashes that marked the worst hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbors in nearly three decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to bolster trade and seek a resolution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute, as both nations traded accusations of violating the truce.
The ceasefire, brokered through U.S. diplomacy and backed by over 30 countries, came after four days of fierce cross-border fighting triggered by an April 22 attack in Pahalgam Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu tourists.
India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups, a claim Islamabad denies, asserting it offers only moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiri separatists.
The skirmishes, involving missiles and drones, claimed nearly 70 lives, according to officials.
Late Saturday, India reported Pakistani violations, with its Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stating the military was instructed to “deal strongly” with any further breaches.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry countered, saying it “remains committed” to the agreement but blamed India for the flare-ups.
By Sunday morning, Reuters witnesses reported calm along the border, with power restored in India’s border towns after overnight blackouts.
President Trump lauded both nations’ leaders for halting the violence, posting on Truth Social:
While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if... a solution can be arrived at concerning KashmirPresident Donald Trump.
The United Nations, alongside countries like Bangladesh, Qatar, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom, welcomed the truce.
In Amritsar, India, a morning siren signaled a return to normalcy, with shops reopening.
Satvir Singh Alhuwalia, 48, a shopkeeper in Amritsar, said:
Ever since the day terrorists attacked people in Pahalgam we have been shutting our shops very early and there was an uncertainty. I am happy that at least there will be no bloodshed on both sides.Satvir Singh Alhuwalia.
Guruman Singh, a security guard, added:
More than me, my family is happy because my children and wife have been calling me every hour to check on me. Thank God the ceasefire happened.Guruman Singh.
In Srinagar, Kashmir, cautious optimism prevailed.
“We are cautious. No one knows how long this ceasefire will hold,” said Muhammad Anas, a grocery shop owner.
Shakeela Jan, a resident, remarked, “All we want is peace and a normal life, with dignity. We have nothing to do with politics.”
Despite the calm, punitive measures like visa suspensions and trade restrictions remain in place, signaling persistent tensions.
The ceasefire offers hope, but the Kashmir dispute, central to India-Pakistan conflicts since 1947, continues to cast a long shadow.