India and Pakistan accused each other of violating a newly agreed ceasefire on Saturday, just hours after reaching the U.S.-brokered deal aimed at ending one of the most dangerous escalations between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades. The ceasefire, which came after weeks of cross-border missile and drone strikes, was announced earlier in the day following negotiations involving top U.S. and regional officials. However, tensions flared almost immediately, with explosions reported in Indian-controlled Kashmir cities of Srinagar and Jammu by nightfall. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the ceasefire agreement had been breached "repeatedly" and blamed Pakistan for initiating the violations. "We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility," Misri said during a press conference in New Delhi. He added that Indian forces were "retaliating" for what he described as a border intrusion. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry rejected the accusation and blamed Indian forces for violating the ceasefire. In a statement, the ministry said Pakistan remained committed to the truce and was "handling the situation with responsibility and restraint." The agreement had been announced earlier in the day by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. "Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence," he wrote, hailing the full and immediate ceasefire deal. Under the terms of the agreement, both sides pledged to halt all military action by land, air, and sea. Military officials from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon to finalize the terms. But residents in Kashmir said they heard multiple blasts just hours later, accompanied by blackouts in major cities. There were no immediate reports of casualties. "What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!" wrote Omar Abdullah, the region's top elected official, on social media. The ceasefire followed a sharp escalation triggered by a deadly mass shooting on April 22 in Indian-controlled Kashmir that left 26 Hindu tourists dead. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militants, a charge Islamabad denies. In the lead-up to the ceasefire, India claimed Pakistani missiles had targeted civilian infrastructure and air bases. In response, it launched strikes on three air bases in Pakistan. Pakistan then conducted retaliatory strikes on military sites in Pathankot and Udhampur. Despite the mutual accusations, both governments have expressed interest in pursuing further talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said discussions would soon begin on a broader agreement at a neutral site. While some residents initially celebrated news of the truce, the renewed clashes have raised fears of another breakdown in diplomacy. — Agencies
