India, Pakistan reach ceasefire – but trade claims of violations

India and Pakistan traded accusations of ceasefire violations early Sunday, hours after 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.

India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said that both sides would "stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea" with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).

He later 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.

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 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.