Sun May 11 12:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Ceasefire Holds After US-Mediated Talks End India-Pakistan Conflict
**New Delhi/Islamabad** – A tense ceasefire between India and Pakistan is holding, following a night of US-mediated talks that ended a dangerous escalation of military action. The truce, announced Saturday, came after days of tit-for-tat strikes triggered by a massacre of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
While both countries have reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire, reports of violations from both sides emerged shortly after the agreement. Explosions rocked several parts of Kashmir hours after the truce, leading to accusations of breaches by both India and Pakistan. Despite these accusations, there have been no fresh strikes reported as of Sunday.
US President Donald Trump took credit for brokering the ceasefire, stating that a night of Washington-mediated talks, prompted by alarming intelligence, helped secure the deal. He expressed pride in the US role, while India downplayed US involvement, asserting the agreement was reached directly between the two countries. Pakistan, however, lauded the US’s contribution to regional stability. China also played a diplomatic role, speaking with high-level officials from both nations before the ceasefire.
The conflict stemmed from a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, which India blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists. India launched “Operation Sindoor” in response, targeting what it described as terrorist and military infrastructure within Pakistan. Islamabad denied any involvement in the killings.
Residents in Indian-administered Kashmir expressed relief at the ceasefire, with markets reopening and people returning to their daily lives. However, some lingering anger and uncertainty remain, particularly concerning the continued suspension of a key water-sharing agreement between the two nations. Pakistan’s defense minister stated that the Indus Water Treaty, along with Kashmir and terrorism, were top priorities in their ongoing communication with India.
Pope Francis welcomed the ceasefire in his Sunday address, appealing for peace not only in the region but also in Ukraine and Gaza. India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, asserted that India’s military actions sent a strong message against terrorism.
The long-running conflict over Kashmir, a territory claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has been a source of tension for decades, leading to multiple wars between the two nuclear-armed nations. The current fragile peace raises questions about the long-term stability of the region and the resolution of the underlying Kashmir dispute.
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