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- US-mediated deal had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes
ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan traded accusations of ceasefire violations early Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-armed neighbors had stepped back from the brink of full-blown war.
India鈥檚 foreign secretary said Pakistan had committed 鈥渞epeated violations鈥� of the truce and that it was retaliating, while Pakistan said it 鈥渞emains committed鈥� to the ceasefire and that its forces were handling violations by India with 鈥渞esponsibility and restraint.鈥�
Earlier, AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing a series of loud explosions. A senior official in Pakistani-run Kashmir told AFP that 鈥渋ntermittent exchange of fire is ongoing鈥� across the de facto border in the contested region, the Line of Control (LoC).
More details were not immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims.
On Saturday, Pakistan and India had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and saw thousands of civilians flee their homes along their border as well as in divided Kashmir.
The news had been surprisingly announced by Trump.
鈥淎fter a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,鈥� Trump posted.
India鈥檚 foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said earlier that both sides would 鈥渟top all firing and military action on land, air and sea鈥� with effect from 5:00 p.m. (1130 GMT).
He later accused Pakistan of 鈥渞epeated violations鈥� and said the Indian armed forces 鈥渁re giving an adequate and appropriate response.鈥�
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Pakistan 鈥渞emains committed to faithful implementation鈥� of the truce.
Accusing India of committing its own violations, it said Pakistan鈥檚 forces 鈥渁re handling the situation with responsibility and restraint.鈥�
It called for ceasefire issues to be handled 鈥渢hrough communication at appropriate levels鈥� and urged troops on the ground to also exercise restraint.
On X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country 鈥渁ppreciates鈥� the US intervention.
鈥淧akistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability,鈥� he wrote.
The conflict was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.
India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba 鈥� a UN-designated terrorist organization 鈥� of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.
Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi鈥檚 Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.
The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
鈥淭he ceasefire is a positive step,鈥� said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, before the claims the truce had been violated.
鈥淚n war, it鈥檚 not just soldiers who die, it鈥檚 mostly civilians 鈥� and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.鈥�
In Srinagar, resident Sukesh KHajjuria was more cautious.
鈥淭he ceasefire is welcome, but it鈥檚 difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,鈥� he said.
Both sides will pay a high price economically for the conflict.
Pakistani military sources claimed its forces had shot down at least 77 Israeli-made high-tech drones 鈥� debris from some of them was seen by AFP reporters 鈥� while Indian officials said they had destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.
Pakistan also says it downed five Indian warplanes 鈥� including three French Rafale fighter jets 鈥� although New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.
Independent verification of claims by either side has been difficult.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.
Rubio also said on X that they had agreed to 鈥渟tart talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.鈥�
News of the ceasefire was met with relief internationally, after increasing calls for both countries to step back from the brink.
China, which borders India and Pakistan, said Beijing was 鈥渨illing to continue playing a constructive role鈥� and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua, which said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken to officials in both countries.