Egypt Daily News – Just hours after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement, India accused neighboring Pakistan of “repeated violations” of the deal, which had been declared on Saturday after four days of military confrontation. India confirmed that its army responded “appropriately” to these breaches, heightening concerns about the potential escalation into a full-blown war between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
Foreign Ministry Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters that “multiple violations” had been recorded in recent hours, adding, “Our armed forces responded appropriately to these violations.”
Earlier on Saturday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on X that Islamabad and New Delhi had agreed to an “immediate ceasefire,” following a statement from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Pakistan also reopened its airspace fully, which had been partially closed due to the escalation.
The renewed tensions began on Wednesday when India launched airstrikes on targets inside Pakistan in response to a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir in late April. Trump later posted on his Truth Social platform: “After a long night of U.S.-mediated talks, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire,” praising both nations for choosing “common sense and great wisdom.”
Escalation Raises Alarm of War
On Saturday, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes against India after three of its airbases were targeted overnight. Senior Air Force officer Vyomika Singh confirmed that “multiple high-speed missile attacks” struck Indian airbases, causing “limited damage” to equipment.
Pakistan accused India of targeting three airbases with missile strikes, including one in Rawalpindi, just 10 kilometers from Islamabad. The sound of the attack was heard in the capital. The base, used to receive foreign dignitaries, had seen Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir depart just hours earlier.
The recent clashes, involving missile strikes, drones, and cross-border fire in the disputed Kashmir region, have been the most intense in decades, claiming the lives of over 60 civilians. The violence was triggered by an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, most of them Hindu men. India blamed the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, designated a terrorist organization by the UN, while Pakistan denied involvement and called for an independent investigation.
As tensions reached an unprecedented level, world leaders including China and G7 countries urged both sides to exercise restraint.
Civilians Flee Conflict Zones
The fighting has sparked a wave of displacement. In Jammu, the second-largest city in Kashmir, large numbers of people boarded a special evacuation train, most of them poor migrant workers from other parts of India. On Friday, the military said it had “repelled” a series of Pakistani attacks overnight and responded “appropriately.” Pakistan’s military denied launching such attacks.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani military claimed that Indian forces shelled areas in Amritsar without providing evidence.
Militant activity in Kashmir has surged since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked the region’s limited autonomy, placing it under New Delhi’s direct rule.
The two countries have fought multiple wars over Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region both claim in full. Since their independence from British rule in 1947, each country has controlled part of the territory.
The conflict has disrupted international air travel, forcing airlines to cancel flights or reroute to avoid flying over the India-Pakistan border.
