A ceasefire between India and Pakistan seems to have lasted overnight into Sunday, even after both nations accused each other of "violations" shortly after the agreement was made.
The deal followed several days of cross-border military confrontations, marking the most severe military clash between the two countries in many years.
US President Donald Trump commended the leaders of India and Pakistan on Sunday morning for their agreement to the ceasefire, noting that millions of lives could have been at risk without it.
This development comes after explosions were reported in Indian-administered Kashmir just hours after the ceasefire was declared, with both nations alleging violations by the other.
The conflict involving drones, missiles, and artillery began when India targeted sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir as retaliation for a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam last month. Pakistan denies any involvement in the attack.
President Trump declared the "full and immediate" ceasefire via his Truth Social Platform on Saturday, stating that it had been facilitated by the US.
Pakistan's foreign minister later confirmed that an agreement had been made between the two countries, adding that "three dozen countries" were involved in the negotiations.
However, shortly after the announcement, residents and BBC correspondents in the major cities of Srinagar and Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing explosions and witnessing flashes in the sky.
Indian Foreign Secretary Misri charged Pakistan with "repeated violations" of the ceasefire and stated that his country's military would respond appropriately.
In contrast, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Pakistan's commitment to the agreement, "despite the violations being carried out by India in certain areas," urging ground troops to "exercise restraint."
Kashmir is fully claimed by both India and Pakistan, but each country only administers part of it since their division after gaining independence from the UK in 1947.
This region has been a contentious issue between the two nuclear-armed countries, leading to two wars being fought over it.
India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar confirmed the ceasefire, stating that the two nations had "reached an agreement on stopping firing and military actions."
"India has always taken a strong and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and will continue to do so," he remarked.
In a subsequent address to the nation, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the ceasefire was established "for the benefit of all."
Following the announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that India and Pakistan had consented to begin discussions on a wide range of issues at a neutral location.
He noted that he and US Vice-President JD Vance had spent 48 hours engaging with high-ranking Indian and Pakistani officials, including their Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif.
In a later post on Truth Social, Trump commended the leaders of India and Pakistan for recognizing that it was "time to halt the current aggression."
"I am proud that the USA played a role in helping you reach this momentous and valiant decision," he stated.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his support for "all efforts to ease tensions in the conflict."
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK had been "involved" in discussions for "several days," with Foreign Secretary David Lammy communicating with both parties.
"I'm glad to see a ceasefire today," Sir Keir commented. "The next step is to ensure that it becomes a lasting and durable solution."
The recent clashes followed two weeks of heightened tensions after the deaths of 26 tourists in the resort area of Pahalgam.
Survivors from the 22 April assault in Indian-administered Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 25 Indians and one Nepali, reported that the militants targeted Hindu men specifically.
According to the Indian defense ministry, the military actions taken this week were part of a "commitment" to hold those accountable for the attack. In contrast, Pakistan labeled them as "unprovoked."
Pakistan claimed that Indian air strikes and cross-border firings since Wednesday had resulted in the deaths of 36 individuals in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, while India’s army reported at least 21 civilian fatalities from Pakistani shelling.
Fighting escalated overnight on Friday, with both nations accusing one another of striking military bases and other defense installations.
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