Specifically, India and Pakistan have recommitted to a 2003 LoC ceasefire. This decision follows a series of Israeli military operations that further fueled hostilities in the area. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. This step is intended to end the invasion and violence that threatens citizens of both countries. A militant attack on tourists in the idyllic resort town of Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 Indian tourists, triggered unprecedented conflict. In response, the Indian military struck back and began targeting the attackers.
The Indian Defence Ministry proclaimed that these military moves show their firm resolve. They promised to bring to justice those behind the deadly assault. Pakistan has loudly rejected these claims, insisting that the accusations leveled against it are baseless.
During the peace talks, US Secretary of State JD Vance and Vice-President Kamala Harris reportedly spent 48 hours locked in deliberation. In addition to personally meeting various senior officials across both India and Pakistan, including Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The participation of so many international actors signals the grave global concern about this rapidly accelerating conflict.
Indian Foreign Secretary Misri blamed Pakistan for “violations, one after the other” of earlier understandings. He focused on the theme of accountability, with a heavy focus on fulfillment of diplomacy to bring peace. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister also tweeted that they had agreed the deal. He said that “over three dozen countries” were involved in the negotiations to establish the ceasefire.
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the ceasefire with guarded optimism. He remarked, “I’m pleased to see today that there’s a ceasefire. The task now is to make sure that that is enduring and is lasting.” His remarks are in line with the sentiments of the entire international community, which seeks a stable and long lasting solution to the decades old discord between India and Pakistan.
Despite the most recent ceasefire agreement, both countries are still accusing each other of perpetrating violence. India’s air strikes had been described by Pakistan as “unprovoked.” They argued that these attacks resulted in the killing of 36 civilians in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In retaliation, India’s military announced the deaths of more than 21 non-combatants as a result of Pakistani artillery fire.
The backdrop of this long simmering conflict is important to understand. India and Pakistan have gone to war twice over the contested territory of Kashmir. Both countries claim the territory in its entirety, but each has only administered the areas they control since their partition along religious lines after independence from the UK in 1947. This long-standing territorial conflict has stoked hatred and bloodshed between the two countries for generations.
In a now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) post, President Trump personally intervened to call for a cessation of hostilities. He announced, “It is time to end the prevailing violence. His powerful plea for peace brings home the critical need to calm escalating tensions before they get even further out of hand.
The international community continues to be on alert as both countries proceed through this delicate ceasefire. In the days ahead… Addressing deep personal wounds and preventing any further outbreak of violence must be done by willing officials from all sides.
“notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas” – spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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