Islamabad/New Delhi, 11 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The United States, India and Pakistan on Saturday announced that the two South Asian nuclear powers have reached an immediate ceasefire, though India has reported some violations since.

The surprise announcement followed days of heightened tensions and overnight missile attacks on both sides of the border.

A few hours after the announcement, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accused the neighbouring country of violating the truce.

Misri in a press briefing said there had been a breach of the understanding between the directors general of military operations of the two countries. He said Indian armed forces were giving "an adequate and appropriate" response.

"We call on Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility," the foreign secretary added.

Explosions were heard at Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar and blackouts were enforced in several border areas amid suspected drone intrusions, Times Now news channel reported. There were similar reports of intrusions along the western sector of the India-Pakistan border.

Misri said the country's armed forces were monitoring the situation closely and had been given instructions to deal with any violations along the international border and the disputed line of control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied any violations, broadcaster Geo News reported, calling reports from Indian media "baseless." The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Islamabad remains committed to implementing the ceasefire.

Pakistani prime minister hails 'victory' over India

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated Pakistan for its "victory" over India, expressing hope for meaningful dialogue with its arch-rival and for the resolution of all outstanding issues.

"This is a victory not just for the armed forces, but for the whole nation," Sharif said in his address to the nation, hours after a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump came into effect.

"History will always remember how Pakistan's armed forces and jets silenced the Indian military in a matter of hours," the Pakistani leader added.

Sharif expressed hope that all outstanding issues between the two countries, including the distribution of water resources and Kashmir, would be resolved through negotiations.

Last month, India unilaterally revoked the Indus Waters Treaty – the agreement that divides water resources between the neighbours – following a deadly militant attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Sharif also thanked the US and other friendly countries for their role in securing the ceasefire, and expressed gratitude to China for always standing firm with Pakistan during challenging times.

Trump first to announce ceasefire

The initial ceasefire announcement came from US President Donald Trump just after 8 am in Washington (1200 GMT), when he posted to his Truth Social network that there was a halt to the conflict, thanks to US mediation.

"I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence," he wrote. US Secretary State Marco Rubio had spoken earlier to his Indian and Pakistani counterparts.

Confirmation from the Pakistani and Indian governments followed shortly after that.

"Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect," Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X.

His Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed the cessation of hostilities on X as well.

"India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action," he wrote.

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Pakistan reopened its airspace, which had been closed due to the hostilities. The two nations have for days traded missile strikes and heavy cross-border fire, including drones and shelling.

Hostilities ongoing before ceasefire

Pakistan reported more civilian deaths on Saturday, while each side claimed to have struck military targets overnight.

A spokesperson for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said that 10 people were killed overnight in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir.

As part of its response in an operation the Pakistani military has called Operation Bunyan Marsus, or Iron Wall, the country's armed forces said it has deployed hypersonic missiles. These missiles are considered particularly dangerous due to their high speed and manoeuvrability, making them difficult for missile defence systems to intercept.

It was impossible to immediately verify the claims from both sides.

Tourist attack triggered current hostilities

The trigger for the latest tensions was the militant attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists.

New Delhi pointed the finger at Islamabad, accusing it of supporting militants, and then launched attacks on both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday, igniting fears the region was on the brink of an all-out war.

Pakistan denied having any role in the attack on the holidaymakers and is calling for an independent investigation.

The roots of the conflict between the two nations date back to the colonial era. In 1947, the British granted independence to the Indian subcontinent and partitioned it. This violent partition created the new state of Pakistan for Muslims alongside predominantly Hindu India.

The partition continues to fuel a bitter rivalry to this day. Since their independence, the two countries have fought three wars, two of them over the border region of Kashmir.

MIA file photo