Gunfire Continues Overnight Along Border Despite Ceasefire
Subsides at Dawn... Both Sides Accuse Each Other of "Violating the Agreement"
Trump: "Will Work to Resolve the Kashmir Issue"
"US to Increase Trade Volume"
Although India and Pakistan agreed to a full ceasefire, fighting continued overnight, and both sides raised their voices in criticism, each accusing the other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
According to local media in India and Pakistan and the Associated Press on May 11, the two countries announced the ceasefire agreement the previous day. However, within hours, multiple explosions were reported in both the Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered areas of Kashmir. Loud noises were heard throughout Srinagar, the main city in Indian-administered Kashmir, and a series of flares streaked across the night sky. Witnesses also reported spotting drones in border regions such as Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat.
Both sides claimed that the other had violated the ceasefire agreement. Vikram Misri, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, said, "The agreement reached today is being repeatedly violated," adding, "The military is taking sufficient and appropriate countermeasures." He further emphasized, "We urge Pakistan to take appropriate action in response to these violations."
In contrast, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered, "Pakistan is faithfully implementing the ceasefire agreement," and added, "Despite India violating the agreement in some areas, our military is managing the situation with responsibility and restraint."
The fighting that continued throughout the night began to subside at dawn. Power was restored in most Indian border cities that had experienced outages overnight, and in Amritsar, a border city in Punjab, India, sirens signaling a return to normal life sounded, prompting citizens to take to the streets.
Pakistan also reopened its airspace, which had been closed under the ceasefire. However, due to ongoing uncertainty, more than 100 inbound and outbound flights were canceled.
As the unstable situation persisted, experts predicted that it would take some time to achieve a complete ceasefire. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Wilson Center think tank, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "This was a hastily arranged ceasefire at the peak of tensions," and added, "Maintaining the ceasefire agreement will be a difficult challenge."
In particular, the suspension of the 'Indus River Treaty,' a sensitive issue between the two countries, continues to fuel conflict. During the recent hostilities, India blocked tributary waters of the Indus River, and Pakistan, considering this an act of war, even mentioned the possibility of a nuclear strike. On the previous day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan announced the ceasefire in a televised address and expressed hope for a "fair and peaceful resolution" regarding the Indus River Treaty. However, India has not issued any particular statement on the matter.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social, "It was never discussed, but I will greatly increase trade with these great nations." He continued, "I am proud of the strong and resolute leadership in India and Pakistan, who showed the strength, wisdom, and courage to recognize that it is time to stop acts of aggression that could result in countless deaths and destruction." He also added, "I will work with both sides to resolve the issue related to Kashmir 'for the first time in a thousand years.'"
The armed conflict between the two countries began with a shooting attack near Pahalgam, a resort area in Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22. At that time, armed militants in Kashmir carried out a gun attack targeting tourists and others, resulting in 26 deaths. India identified Pakistan as being behind the attack and, on May 7, launched 'Operation Sindhur,' carrying out missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan. In direct response to Operation Sindhur, Pakistan launched 'Bunyanun Marsoos' on the morning of May 10, attacking India's missile storage facilities and air bases.
Tensions between the two countries escalated to the brink of all-out war, but the two sides dramatically agreed to a ceasefire the previous day.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
