India accuses Pakistan of breaching ceasefire after reaching deal hours earlier
Residents said explosions were heard in Srinagar and Jammu, followed by a blackout.
India accused Pakistan of violating a ceasefire deal made hours earlier on Saturday, after US-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” on ceasing fire, and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement.
He told a news conference in New Delhi: “We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility.”
Mr Misri said the Indian army was “retaliating” for what he called a “border intrusion”.
Earlier, multiple explosions were heard in two cities in India-controlled Kashmir hours after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire deal, following the US-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Residents said the loud explosions in Srinagar and Jammu were followed by a blackout.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, said in a post on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”
In another post, he said: “This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up.”
Cross-border shelling and gunfire was also reported from at least five places along the Line of Control, a de facto frontier that divides disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
There were no reports of casualties.
The ceasefire deal had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the massacre of tourists by gunmen last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge.
Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides since then.
The first word of the truce came from US President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire.
He said: “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar announced the truce on Geo News, saying that Saudi Arabia and Turkey played an important role in facilitating the deal.
Mr Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke on Saturday.
“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea.
“Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding,” he said.
The top military leaders will speak again on Monday, Mr Misri added.
Tensions have soared since an attack at a popular tourist site in India-controlled Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, mostly Indian Hindu tourists, on April 22.
