The Indian Army announced today, Monday, that the border with Pakistan experienced “the first quiet night in recent days,” following a sudden ceasefire over the weekend.
The truce was reached on Saturday after four days of rocket, artillery, and drone exchanges between the two countries, resulting in the deaths of at least 60 people and the displacement of thousands.
These clashes are the fiercest between the two nuclear rivals since 1999, raising global concerns about the potential escalation into a full-blown war.
Initially, doubts were cast on the ceasefire’s durability, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected announcement of it on social media.
The Indian Army stated, “Last night was largely calm across … Kashmir and other areas along the international border,” adding, “No incidents were reported, marking the first quiet night in days.”
It was also the second consecutive night without gunfire or shelling in Poonch, a border town in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir.
Poonch has been one of the most affected areas in the recent conflict, with at least 12 of its residents killed and most of its roughly 60,000 inhabitants fleeing their homes.
Residents began returning to the town yesterday, Sunday, amid fears that the ceasefire might not hold.
The conflict had escalated before dawn last Wednesday when India launched missile strikes targeting what it described as “terrorist camps” in the Pakistan-administered portion of Kashmir.
These attacks followed an incident on April 22 that targeted tourists in the Indian-held region and resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
India accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, but Islamabad denied involvement and immediately retaliated with heavy artillery fire, claiming it shot down five Indian fighter jets, a claim that New Delhi did not comment on.
The region has seen an escalation in armed operations since 2019 when the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the limited autonomy of the area, imposing direct rule from New Delhi.
India and Pakistan have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both countries claim in full. Each has administered a part of it since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
