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As an uneasy calm settled over villages on the Pakistan side of contested Kashmir on Sunday, families returned to their own beds but were sure to leave their bunkers stocked.More than 60 people were killed in four days of intense conflict between arch-rivals Pakistan and India before a US-brokered truce was announced on Saturday.At heart of the hostilities is Kashmir, a mountainous Muslim-majority region divided between the two countries but claimed in full by both, and where the heaviest casualties are often reported. On the Pakistan side of the heavily militarised de facto border, known as the Line of Control (LoC), families wearied by decades of sporadic firing began to return home — for now.”I have absolutely no faith in India; I believe it will strike again. For people living in this area, it’s crucial to build protective bunkers near their homes,” said Kala Khan, a resident of Chakothi which overlooks the Neelum River that separates the two sides and from where they can see Indian military posts.His eight-member family sheltered through the night and parts of the day under the 20-inch-thick concrete roofs of two bunkers.”Whenever there was Indian shelling, I would take my family into it,” he said of the past few days. “We’ve stored mattresses, flour, rice, other food supplies, and even some valuable belongings in there.”According to an administrative officer in the region, more than a thousand bunkers have been built along the LoC, around a third by the government, to protect civilians from Indian shelling. – ‘No guarantee’ -Pakistan and India have fought several wars over Kashmir, and India has long battled an insurgency on its side by militant groups fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan.New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing the militants, including an attack on tourists in April which sparked the latest conflict. Pakistan said it was not involved and called for an independent investigation. Limited firing overnight between Saturday and Sunday made some families hesitant to return to their homes on the LoC.In Chakothi, nestled among lush green mountains, surrounded by an abundance of walnut trees at the foothills, half of the 300 shops were closed and few people ventured onto the streets.”I’ve been living on the LoC for 50 years. Ceasefires are announced, but after a few days the firing starts again,” said Muhammad Munir, a 53-year-old government employee in Chakothi. It is the poor who suffer most from the endless uncertainty and hunt for safety along the LoC, he said, adding: “There’s no guarantee that this latest ceasefire will hold — we’re certain of that.”When clashes broke out, Kashif Minhas, 25, a construction worker in Chakothi, desperately searched for a vehicle to move his wife and three children away from the fighting.”I had to walk several kilometres before finally getting one and moving my family,” he told AFP.”In my view, the current ceasefire between India and Pakistan is just a formality. There’s still a risk of renewed firing, and if it happens again, I’ll move my family out once more.”A senior administrative officer stationed in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir where a mosque was struck by an Indian missile killing three people, told AFP there had been no reports of firing since Sunday morning.- ‘Serious doubts’ -In Indian-administered Kashmir, hundreds of thousands of people who had evacuated also began to cautiously return home after heavy Pakistani shelling — many expressing the same fears as on the Pakistani side.The four-day conflict struck deep into both countries, reaching major cities for the first time in decades — with the majority of deaths in Pakistan, and almost all civilians.Chakothi taxi driver Muhammad Akhlaq said the ceasefire was “no guarantee of lasting peace”.”I have serious doubts about it because the core issue that fuels hostility between the two countries still remains unresolved — and that issue is Kashmir,” said the 56-year-old.

A ceasefire appeared to hold on Sunday between India and Pakistan, hours after the nuclear-armed rivals accused each other of violating a truce that brought them back from the brink of all-out war.The ceasefire was agreed on Saturday after four days of missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and sent thousands fleeing, in the worst violence since India and Pakistan’s last open conflict in 1999.The “full and immediate” halt to hostilities was unexpectedly announced by US President Donald Trump on social media, who said that it followed a “long night of talks mediated by the United States”.Early on Sunday India’s foreign secretary said that New Delhi had retaliated after Pakistan’s “repeated violations” of the truce.Pakistan said it “remains committed” to the ceasefire and that its forces were handling violations by India with “responsibility and restraint”.Residents of several villages along the Indian side of the Line of Control, the de-facto frontier of divided Kashmir, said heavy Pakistani shelling resumed hours after the ceasefire announcement.Bairi Ram’s four-room house in the village of Kotmaira was reduced to rubble in shelling and three of his buffaloes were killed.”Everything is finished,” he said.- ‘Fragile peace’ -But by later in the day a senior security official in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered-Kashmir said there were “intermittent exchanges of fire” but that situation was “quiet since the morning”.Hazoor Sheikh, 46, who runs a store in the main market in the border town of Poonch, which was the worst-hit in India during the fighting, was one of the first to reopen his shop on Sunday.”Finally, after days, we could sleep peacefully,” said Sheikh.At least 12 Poonch residents were killed at most of the 60,000-strong population had fled in cars, on buses and even on foot. On Sunday people were starting to come back, although some remained worried that the ceasefire would not last.”Every time India has agreed to such an agreement, Pakistan has ended up violating it,” Poonch resident Hafiz Mohammad Shah Bukhari, 49, told AFP.This was echoed on the other side by Kala Khan, who lives in Chakothi in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and who hid with neighbours in a bunker.”India is a deceitful neighbour. You can never trust it,” said Khan told AFP. “I have absolutely no faith in India; I believe it will strike again.”Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, was also sceptical.”Things are going to remain hostile. Things are going to be difficult,” he said.Pro-military rallies were held in cities across Pakistan on Sunday, with the country’s green and white flag draped from buildings and cars. – ‘Terrorist camps’ -The alarming spiral towards all-out conflict began before dawn on Wednesday, when India launched missile attacks destroying what it called “terrorist camps”.This followed an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 people and which India accused Pakistan of backing.Pakistan firmly denied any involvement and called for an independent investigation.Islamabad immediately responded to the strikes with heavy artillery fire and claimed to have downed five fighter jets — something India has not commented on — before it said it launched its own strikes on Indian cities on Saturday.Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked the region’s limited autonomy and took it under direct rule from New Delhi.Divided Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, who have fought several wars over the territory since their independence from Britain in 1947.- ‘Positive step’ -Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X that his country — which has long sought international mediation in Kashmir — “appreciates” the US intervention.India has consistently opposed mediation, however, and observers were sceptical of the truce.News of the ceasefire was met with relief from countries including Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations.China, which borders India and Pakistan, said it was “willing to continue playing a constructive role” and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.”The days ahead will be critical to see whether the ceasefire holds and gives way to relative normalcy,” read an editorial in Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English language newspaper.”While foreign friends can certainly help create a conducive atmosphere, it is Islamabad and New Delhi that will have to do the heavy lifting themselves to secure peace.”burs-stu

Residents of the town in Indian-administered Kashmir worst hit by the deadliest fighting in decades with Pakistan trickled back on Sunday, a day after a surprise truce.Over 60 people died in days of days of missile, drone and artillery attacks that came close to all-out war until the ceasefire, which was holding on Sunday despite early alleged violations.Most of the dead were civilians and the majority Pakistanis.On the Indian side, Poonch on the Indian-run part of divided Kashmir bore the brunt, with at least 12 people killed at 49 injured, according to officials.They included 12-year-old Zian Khan and his twin sister Urwa Fatima, hit by an artillery shell on Wednesday as their parents tried to leave the town.The majority of the 60,000-strong population fled in cars, on buses and even on foot, leaving only a few thousand to brave it out.Tariq Ahmad arrived back on Sunday bringing back 20 people in his bus as signs of life and activity returned to Poonch’s streets.”Most who fled are still afraid and will wait and watch to see if this agreement holds,” the 26-year-old driver told AFP at the main bus terminal.”Luckily, I managed to pick up 20 people from nearby villages who wanted to check if their homes and belongings survived the intense Pakistani shelling.”Poonch lies about 145 miles (230 kilometres) from Jammu, the second largest city in Indian-administered Kashmir.Hazoor Sheikh, 46, who runs a store in the main market, was one of the first few people to reopen his shop. “Finally, after days, we could sleep peacefully,” he said. “It is not just me or my family but everyone around finally had a smile yesterday,” he added.”I nervously returned a short while back to check on my shop,” 40-year-old Mushtaq Qureshi said.”Our families and neighbours were all separated as people fled to villages or relatives’ homes for safety. But we are happy to be back today and to see each other again,” he said.Qureshi had left his home with about 20 relatives.  “Buildings around our neighbourhood were hit but luckily nothing has happened to my home,” he said. – ‘Worst nightmare’ -Rita Sharma, 51, said she was really looking forward to seeing five children from her extended whom she had sent away for safety.”They were the first to call yesterday after the (ceasefire) announcement and declared that they’d be back home by Sunday evening,” she said. “We hope it stays peaceful.” Hotel manager Subhash Chandar Raina also stayed put despite “the worst shelling in years”.”I feel sorry for those who’ve lost lives and belongings but thank God for allowing us to return to our normal lives after the worst phase in the region for years,” the 53-year-old said. Raina was one of only two hotel staff who stayed back as they felt travelling “was risky”. Abdul Razzak, 50, remembers fleeing with four children and two other relatives on two motorbikes with nothing but their clothes. “It was our worst nightmare… We’ve seen our people die around us, so none of us want a war,” Razzak said.Hafiz Mohammad Shah Bukhari, was sceptical.”We are not entirely confident that this ceasefire agreement will hold, based on our experience over the years,” the 49-year-old said.”Every time India has agreed to such an agreement, Pakistan has ended up violating it… It’s people like us, the frontier people, who end up suffering and losing everything.”

An overcrowded bus carrying dozens of Buddhist pilgrims plummeted into a precipice in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 21 and injuring 24, a senior transport official said.The island nation’s winding roads are among the most dangerous in the world, and the crash off a cliffside road on Sunday was among the deadliest recorded in Sri Lanka in decades. The roof and side panels of the bus were sheared off, and more than half the seats were ripped from the floor of the vehicle, which landed wheels up into a tea plantation, photos of the wreckage showed.The state-owned bus was carrying around 70 passengers — about 20 more than its capacity — through the central hilly region of Kotmale when the driver lost control and it veered off the road before dawn, police said.”We are trying to establish whether it was a mechanical failure or if the driver fell asleep at the wheel,” a local police official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.Deputy Transport Minister Prasanna Gunasena told reporters at the scene that the injured were rushed to two area hospitals.”Twenty one have died and we are trying to identify the victims,” Gunasena said.The toll could have been higher, the minister added, if not for local residents helping pull people from the mangled wreckage and rushing them to hospital.Police said 24 people were being treated in the two hospitals.One survivor told a local journalist that he had been in the front section of the bus and was lucky to have escaped with only minor injuries.”The bus was leaning to the left side and as the driver was negotiating a bend, he lost control and it fell down the precipice,” said the man, who did not give his name, in a video seen by AFP.The bus was travelling from the pilgrim town of Kataragama in the island’s deep south to the central city of Kurunegala, a distance of about 250 kilometres (155 miles). Sri Lanka records an average of 3,000 road fatalities annually, making the island’s roads among the most deadly in the world.Sunday’s bus accident was one of the worst in the country since April 2005 when a driver attempted to beat a train at a level crossing in the town of Polgahawela. The bus driver was lightly injured, but 37 passengers were killed.In March 2021, 13 passengers and the driver of a privately owned bus died when the vehicle crashed into a precipice in Passara, about 100 kilometres east of the scene of the crash on Sunday.

India cricket board officials were reported to be meeting Sunday to discuss a quick resumption of the IPL, following India and Pakistan agreeing a ceasefire in their deadly border conflict.Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan called a halt to hostilities on Saturday and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia told website cricbuzz they were “closely monitoring the evolving situation.”Saikia added they will “take a call on IPL resumption after consulting all stakeholders of IPL and the concerned government authorities.” Rajeev Shukla, vice-president of the BCCI, told Indian media that officials would meet on Sunday to decide the future course of action.The Indian Premier League was on Friday suspended for a week, a day after a match  between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capital was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the northern city of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.A special train was arranged for players to return to Delhi on Friday as airspace was closed, while overseas stars began to head home on Saturday.Teams on Sunday were reported to be contacting their overseas players and coaching staff about returning, with website ESPNcricinfo saying the IPL could restart around May 15 if given the go-ahead by the government.There are 12 regular season games remaining to be played followed by three playoff matches and the final, originally scheduled for May 25.India and Pakistan have fought two of their three full-scale wars over Kashmir, a disputed territory that both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.New Delhi launched missile strikes on Wednesday morning in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-run Kashmir two weeks ago that India blames on Pakistan.Islamabad has denied any involvement.At least 60 people have been killed on both sides of the border since Wednesday, in the worst violence in decades between the South Asian neighbours.

India and Pakistan traded accusations of ceasefire violations early Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-armed neighbours had stepped back from the brink of full-blown war.India’s foreign secretary said it retaliated after Pakistan’s “repeated violations” of the truce, while Pakistan said it “remains committed” to the ceasefire and that its forces were handling violations by India with “responsibility and restraint”.AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing loud explosions. A senior official in Pakistani-run Kashmir told AFP that “intermittent exchange of fire is ongoing” across the de facto border in the contested region, the Line of Control (LoC). More details were not immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims. On Saturday, Pakistan and India had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and saw thousands flee their homes along the border as well as in divided Kashmir.The news had been surprisingly announced by Trump on Saturday.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Late Saturday, Trump posted again on Truth Social, praising the leaders of India and Pakistan for understanding that “it was time to stop the current aggression”, and also pledging to increase trade “substantially” with both nations.The US president also said he would work with New Delhi and Islamabad to “see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir”.India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said earlier that both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).He then accused Pakistan of “repeated violations” and said the Indian armed forces “are giving an adequate and appropriate response”.Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Pakistan “remains committed to faithful implementation” of the truce. “Notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,” it said.- ‘Vigilant’ -The conflict was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly male Hindu tourists, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Indian former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said Sunday that the ceasefire “seems to be a temporary situation.”The Pakistanis were prompted by the Americans,” he said, adding that India’s “Operation Sindoor was a huge success in terms of targeted strikes against terrorists”. Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.”The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.Rubio also said on X that they had agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.On X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country — which has long sought international mediation in Kashmir — “appreciates” the US intervention.India has consistently opposed mediation, however, and observers were sceptical of the truce.”The ceasefire was cobbled together hastily, and at a moment when tensions were at their highest,” US-based South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman wrote on X after the claims of violations.”India appears to have interpreted the deal differently than did the US and Pakistan, and it’s likely not keen on the broader talks it calls for. Upholding it will pose challenges,” he warned.News of the ceasefire was met with relief from countries including Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations.China, which borders India and Pakistan, said Beijing was “willing to continue playing a constructive role” and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.burs-st-ach/sco

Bangladesh’s interim government on Saturday banned the Awami League, the political party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, pending the outcome of a trial over its crackdown on mass protests that prompted her ouster last year.According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 protesters died in July 2024 when Hasina’s government launched a brutal campaign to silence the opposition.Hasina remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant from Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity.”It has been decided to ban the activities — including in cyberspace — of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of the Awami League and its leaders ends,” Asif Nazrul, a government advisor on law and justice, told reporters.Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has led an interim government since Hasina was overthrown. Nazrul said the decision was taken to ensure the country’s “sovereignty and security” and “the security of the protesters” along with safeguarding “the plaintiffs and the witnesses of the tribunal.”Yunus’s administration also simultaneously approved an amendment to the country’s International Crimes Tribunal Act, allowing authorities to prosecute political parties and their affiliated bodies. The Awami League rejected the administration’s move, calling it “illegitimate.”The ban comes a day after thousands of people rallied outside Yunus’s residence, demanding a ban on Hasina’s party. On Thursday, former Awami League leader Abdul Hamid — also under investigation — successfully left the country. At least three police officers responsible for overseeing airport arrivals and departures have been dismissed for negligence in the wake of Hamid’s departure, officials said.

India accused Pakistan of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement Saturday and said it was retaliating, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-armed neighbours had stepped back from the brink of full-blown war.There was no immediate response from Pakistan to the claim from Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who said there had been “repeated violations” and that India’s “armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations.”Earlier, AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing a series of loud explosions. A senior official in Pakistani-run Kashmir told AFP that “intermittent exchange of fire is ongoing” across the de facto border in the contested region, the Line of Control (LoC). More details were not immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims. The claims came after Pakistan and India had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and saw thousands of civilians flee their homes along their border as well as in divided Kashmir.The news had been surprisingly announced by Trump.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Misri had said earlier that both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).In a statement on X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country “appreciates” the US intervention.”Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability,” he wrote.- Attacks and counter-attacks -The conflict was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.”The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, before the claims the truce had been violated.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.Both sides will pay a high price economically for the conflict.Pakistani military sources claimed its forces had shot down at least 77 Israeli-made high-tech drones — debris from some of them was seen by AFP reporters — while Indian officials said they had destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.Pakistan also says it downed five Indian warplanes — including three French Rafale fighter jets — although New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.Independent verification of claims by either side has been difficult.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.He also said on X that they had agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”News of the ceasefire was met with a sigh of relief internationally, after increasing calls in recent days for both countries to step back from the brink.China, which borders India and Pakistan, said Beijing was “willing to continue playing a constructive role” and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua, which said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken to officials in both countries.Britain, the Indian subcontinent’s former colonial master and home to a huge diaspora from both countries, also welcomed the truce, as did UN chief Antonio Guterres.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called on both countries “to use this opportunity to ensure a reduction in tensions and lasting peace in the region”.burs-st/sst

Pakistan and India agreed Saturday to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks — news surprisingly announced by US President Donald Trump, who congratulated them on using “common sense”.Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the development minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social network, as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours appeared to be spiralling towards a full-blown war.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).In a statement on X, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said: “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect.””Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.Hours later, however, an Indian government source said Pakistan had broken the agreement, and AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing a series of loud explosions.Separately, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah posted on X: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”Further details were not immediately available.- Attacks and counter-attacks -The ceasefire comes after four days of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides that killed at least 60 people and saw thousands of civilians flee their homes along their border as well as in divided Kashmir.The fighting was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.- Positive step -“The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.Both sides will pay a high price economically for the conflict.Pakistani military sources claimed its forces had shot down at least 77 Israeli-made high-tech drones — debris from some of them was seen by AFP reporters — while Indian officials said they had destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.Pakistan also says it downed five Indian warplanes — including three French Rafale fighter jets — although New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.Independent verification of claims by either side has been difficult.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice-President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.”I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” he said on X.Vance posted on the same platform: “My gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”News of the ceasefire was welcomed in Britain, the Indian subcontinent’s former colonial master and home to a huge diaspora from both countries.”Today’s ceasefire between India and Pakistan is hugely welcome,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X.”I urge both parties to sustain this. De-escalation is in everybody’s interest.”UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “positive step” that should lead to peace, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called on both countries “to use this opportunity to ensure a reduction in tensions and lasting peace in the region”.burs-ach/fox/sst

Desperate crowds fought Saturday to board a special train ferrying people out of Jammu in Indian Kashmir and away from the worst fighting with Pakistan in decades.Baton-wielding policemen blew whistles to try and restore order as people — mostly poor workers from central and eastern India — furiously elbowed each other and hurled abuses to get on board.The train, sent by the federal government, took those lucky enough to secure a place to the Indian capital New Delhi, about 600 kilometres (400 miles) south of Jammu, free of charge.Hours later, officials from both countries announced they had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire.Karan Verma, 41, originally from Chhattisgarh in central India, had been a mason in Akhnoor near Jammu for two decades and thought of it as home.But he wanted out at any cost. “There are loud explosions the entire night,” he said. “There is no choice but to leave.” Some people lifted babies and young children and flung them to family members who had managed to beat the crowd and board.”There should be more trains,” said Suresh Kumar, 43, from Madhya Pradesh state, dragging his brother away from a fight with another passenger.Nisha Devi, her three children and her husband could not get a space on the train to return to the distant eastern state of Bihar, their home province.”If I got on that train, it would have been like walking into a death trap with the children,” she said philosophically.- Civilian deaths -This latest bout of Indo-Pakistani fighting was touched off by an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men.The nuclear-armed rivals have fought several wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since independence from Britain in 1947.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied involvement.More than 60 civilians have been killed amid fears that the conflict will spiral into all-out war.Teklal Padmani Lala clung to metal bars at the entrance of one of the compartments as the special train prepared to depart Jammu.”I will go like this the entire way till Delhi,” he said — and further if he has to.