The fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan appeared to hold mostly the first day after the first skirmish.
President Trump announced on Saturday that both sides agreed to a ceasefire with the help of US mediation. It halted the military conflict that escalated by colliding with military bases in both countries, accompanied by drones, missiles and heavy artillery fire.
Trump continued in a blessing note on Sunday, “I praised him for having strength, wisdom and guise to fully understand that it was time to stop the current attacks that could lead to the death and destruction of so many people.
He added that he will work with them to “essentially” increase trade with the two countries and see if “solutions can be reached” to resolve the seven-year dispute in the Kashmir region.
Pakistan has been a close ally to the declining importance of the US lifetime, and praised the role of the US as a mediator. However, in India, public explanations of the Trump administration’s role in mediation seemed to touch on some sensitive spots politically.
The Indian government has long framed its relationship with Pakistan as a strict bilateral issue, saying that in the hours since the ceasefire was announced, India was negotiated directly between Indian and Pakistani officials.
India probably didn’t mention the role of the US, as it was partly hoping to avoid domestic perceptions that it had stopped fighting its neighbors and its colon under external pressure.
On Sunday, Indian officials acknowledged discussions with American officials but provided a timeline for the conflict, which stated that India had made its own decision.
In consultations with US officials and diplomats from other countries, India said it was sticking to a single message.
After Pakistan sent waves of drones to India early on Saturday, the Indian troops hit hard at some of Pakistan’s major military bases, officials said. At that point, Pakistan has expressed his willingness to hold consultations through military leaders, officials said, and both sides agreed to stop the fire.
Some supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government defeated the ceasefire as a victory for the strength of the Indian army. Pakistan claimed he was taken to a place where he was forced to seek a ceasefire.
The Indian Air Force said in a social media post that it had fulfilled its mission on Sunday in “precision and professionalism.”
The victory memes weren’t very booked and the signs pop up overnight. Read one “Salute to the Indian Army – Our Pride, Our Guardians”.
Some Indian officials said India’s actions in the conflict have shown a harsher stance under Modi than terrorism. India struck Pakistan after vowing serious reaction to the Indian-controlled terrorist attacks in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians on April 22.
India accused Pakistan of supporting attackers – Pakistan denied any role – two weeks later launched a cross-border military campaign.
In Pakistan, many also cast the end of the conflict as victory for their nation and military.
TV channel Geo News broadcasts footage of civilians showering petals around the necks of soldiers in Sialkot, a city that has been damaged by past military conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Nadeem Farooq Paracha, a well-known Karachi columnist, said the public atmosphere reflects a sense of self-confidence that has not been seen for years.
“Pakistan may just have won its first war with India,” he said in an interview. “It has successfully achieved India’s major attacks and won several important military and diplomatic victories, while India rarely shows for its gambit.”
Sabir Shah, a Lahore-based political analyst, said the Pakistan Air Force has demonstrated an operational advantage.
“From a military hardware perspective, India’s losses are certainly relatively high,” he said. Pakistan claims that five Indian planes have been defeated. India has not admitted to losing the plane, but eyewitness accounts and some government officials suggest that it lost at least two.
As both sides tallied profits and losses to others, uncertainty remained as to whether a ceasefire would occur. Shortly after it was declared on Saturday, reports of artillery fires were reported. However, things looked mild as of Sunday night.
Sajad Shafi, a local politician in the Uri border town on the Indian side of Kashmir, said Sunday had been “peace” so far.
“There’s a great sense of security between people,” he said.
However, while civilians were eager to return to their homes, Shafi urged them to stay in the relief camp on another day.
“We can’t trust this ceasefire,” he said. “You don’t know what’s next.”
Suhasini Raj contributed to the report from Lucknow, India.
