India-Pakistan Ceasefire Shaken: Explosions Rock Kashmir Hours After Uneasy Truce Begins

On May 10, 2025, India and Pakistan reached a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement to de-escalate growing tensions in the disputed region of Kashmir. The truce was hailed by the international community as a significant step toward regional stability. However, within mere hours of the announcement, explosions and artillery fire were reported in Indian-administered Kashmir, raising serious doubts about the ceasefire’s durability.

This latest conflict was triggered by a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. A group of militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing 26 civilians and injuring dozens. The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group believed to be affiliated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. The group stated the attack was in retaliation for what it called India’s “demographic invasion” of Kashmir—referring to new laws allowing non-residents to settle in the region.

In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a large-scale military operation targeting what it described as terrorist launchpads and infrastructure inside Pakistan-controlled territory. Indian airstrikes reportedly eliminated several high-value militant targets, including a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander. Pakistan responded with artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC), escalating the already fragile situation.

Amid the rising tensions and international alarm, the United States stepped in to mediate. After overnight negotiations led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, both India and Pakistan agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the truce early on May 10, crediting what he called "determined diplomacy" for averting what could have been a major regional war.

The ceasefire was intended to halt all hostilities on land, sea, and air. Both nations agreed to restore communication channels between their military commands and to abstain from any provocative troop movements or missile testing near the border. The deal was supported by several international actors including China, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, who all urged the two South Asian rivals to step back from the brink.

However, within hours of the announcement, reports emerged from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, of loud explosions and air raid sirens. Residents described the sky lighting up with flashes and the distant thud of mortar shelling. Air defense systems were reportedly activated in several Indian border states, and a temporary power blackout occurred in Gujarat, attributed to suspected drone activity.

India was quick to blame Pakistan for violating the ceasefire. According to Indian military officials, Pakistani forces fired artillery shells across the LoC in the Poonch district, prompting a strong retaliatory response. The Indian Army claimed to have inflicted “heavy casualties” on Pakistani forces in the exchange. Pakistan, on the other hand, denied any ceasefire violations and accused India of using the ceasefire as a smokescreen to target civilian areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

This back-and-forth blame game is a familiar pattern in Indo-Pakistani relations. Despite numerous ceasefire agreements in the past—most notably the 2003 and 2021 deals—violations are common, and trust between the two nations remains extremely low. Both countries claim the entire territory of Kashmir but control different parts of it. The region has been a flashpoint since 1947, and three out of the four wars fought between India and Pakistan have been over Kashmir.

The international community responded with concern to the renewed violence. The G7 nations issued a joint statement calling for "immediate restraint and renewed commitment to peace." The United Nations Secretary-General also urged both sides to honor the ceasefire and reopen diplomatic channels. Analysts warned that a prolonged conflict could destabilize South Asia and lead to a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed nations—an outcome with potentially catastrophic global consequences.

Experts have long emphasized the need for a sustainable political solution to the Kashmir conflict. Temporary ceasefires, while helpful in reducing short-term violence, do little to resolve the deep-rooted issues of identity, sovereignty, and self-determination that continue to fuel unrest in the region. Many Kashmiris remain caught between competing nationalisms, their lives shaped by decades of militarization, insurgency, and political exclusion.

Despite the volatility, some observers see the recent ceasefire—even in its fragile state—as an opportunity. "The fact that both sides agreed to a truce underlines that dialogue is still possible," said Dr. Kavita Mehra, a South Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group. "What is needed now is sustained diplomatic engagement, confidence-building measures, and an acknowledgment of the human cost of this conflict."

As of now, the situation along the LoC remains tense. Indian forces are on high alert, and Pakistan has reportedly moved additional troops into key forward positions. The ceasefire agreement, while still technically in effect, appears to be on life support. Whether it survives the coming days will depend on the political will of both nations—and the continued involvement of international mediators.

In the meantime, the people of Kashmir continue to bear the brunt of a conflict that shows little sign of resolution. As the world watches, one thing is clear: peace in Kashmir remains as elusive as ever. The road ahead will require not just diplomacy, but courage, compromise, and a long-overdue reckoning with the grievances of a people who have lived under the shadow of war for generations.