Srinagar on Edge: Ceasefire Brokered, Then Broken?
India and Pakistan have reached a mutual understanding for a truce.
In a surprising turn of events, India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire. Just hours later, reports of explosions and power outages in Srinagar sparked fresh concerns about a potential ceasefire violation.
The unexpected truce was announced by both Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India, following a long night of mediation by US President Donald Trump. However, Indian government sources hinted at a breach of the agreement, claiming Pakistan violated the bilateral accord just hours after the ceasefire came into effect.
Journalists from the AFP news agency reported several loud explosions in Srinagar, a city under Indian control in the disputed region of Kashmir, during the evening. Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed his confusion about the ceasefire situation on an online platform, saying, "What the hell is happening with the ceasefire? Explosions are heard all over Srinagar."
This ceasefire agreement comes after days of escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers, triggered by a terrorist attack on April 22 that left 26 people dead, mostly Indian tourists. India accuses Pakistan of involvement, while Pakistan denies any role and demands an independent investigation.
The conflict's roots date back to the colonial era, as the British divided the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan, creating animosity that persists to this day. The two nations have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since their independence in 1947.
World leaders, including the G7 foreign ministers and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have called for de-escalation and maximum restraint to prevent further military action, which could destabilize the region.
Constantly evolving situation in Srinagar. Stay tuned for more updates.
- India
- Pakistan
- Donald Trump
Sources: ntv.de, toh/dpa
Note: There isn't concrete evidence confirming a ceasefire violation as of the latest reports. However, there have been renewed hostilities between India and Pakistan prior to the agreement, sparking worries about potential breaches of the ceasefire.
- The European Union, expressing its concern about the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, has also raised concerns over the situation in the Kashmir region following the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
- In a WhatsApp message to his fellow policymakers, a high-ranking Hindu political leader expressed his dismay over the immediate ceasefire breakdown, questioning the sincerity of both India and Pakistan in upholding the agreement.
- The situation in Srinagar dominated general news headlines, with many journalists and officials urging for confirmation of the ceasefire's status and expressing their fear of potential politics escalating the conflict.
- Despite the ceasefire agreement, war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan continue to cast a shadow over politics and general news, with reports of violence and instability leading to increased international scrutiny and calls for de-escalation.
