Explosions heard after India and Pakistan agree to 'full and immediate ceasefire'

LAST UPDATE | 22 hrs ago

MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS WERE heard in two cities in India-controlled Kashmir hours after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire deal, following the US-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.

Residents said the loud explosions in Srinagar and Jammu were followed by a blackout.

Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, said in a post on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”

In another post, he said: “This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up.”

Cross-border shelling and gunfire was also reported from at least five places along the Line of Control, a de facto frontier that divides disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

There were no reports of casualties.

The ceasefire deal had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the massacre of tourists by gunmen last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge.

Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides since then.

The reports of explosions come after US President Donald Trump has announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” after a long night of talks mediated by the US.

“Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he wrote on social media site Truth Social.

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Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the announcement by Trump.

“Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!,” Dar said on X.

However, India and Pakistan worked out a ceasefire bilaterally, an Indian government source told news agency AFP, after US President Donald Trump said it came through talks mediated by Washington.

“The stoppage of firing and military action between India and Paksitan was worked out directly between the two countries,” the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5 pm local time.

India has targeted Pakistani military bases after Pakistan fired several high-speed missiles at multiple Indian air bases in the country’s Punjab state – but said it is committed to non-escalation if Pakistan reciprocates.

The attack marks the latest escalation in a conflict triggered by a massacre last month that India blames on Pakistan.

Pakistan earlier said it had intercepted most missiles targeting three air bases, and that retaliatory strikes on India were under way.

Indian Colonel Sofiya Qureshi told a press conference in New Delhi that Pakistan also targeted health facilities and schools at its three air bases in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

“Befitting reply has been given to Pakistani actions,” she said.

Includes reporting from AFP and Press Association

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