A cautious calm returned to India’s north-western front Saturday night following three tense days of cross-border shelling and drone attacks that rocked border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. The respite comes in the wake of a ceasefire agreement reached between India and Pakistan, aimed at halting the sharp escalation in hostilities that had threatened to spiral further.
In Jammu’s Udhampur district — one of the areas affected by cross-border fire on Friday — officials reported that shelling ceased late Saturday evening. The silence of the guns marked a much-needed reprieve for residents who had spent previous nights under the threat of bombardment. According to local authorities, there have been no fresh ceasefire violations since the announcement of the truce.
Despite the cessation of hostilities, the atmosphere in the affected regions remains tense. In many villages near the border, residents chose to keep their lights off through the night — a voluntary blackout reflecting lingering fears of renewed attacks. Though the sirens have stopped and official blackout advisories have been lifted, uncertainty still looms over whether the ceasefire will hold.
Since May 7, Pakistan has carried out intense cross-border shelling and drone strikes across multiple sectors, leading to the deaths of at least 22 people, including six members of India’s security forces. Over 40 others have been reported injured. India responded with what it described as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible” strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. These actions followed the April massacre in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed — an incident India has linked to terrorist elements operating from across the border.
In Kashmir, peace gradually returned to border villages Sunday morning after several days of shelling that had forced many residents to flee their homes for safety. In Tangdhar, a village near the Line of Control (LoC), residents reported an incident-free night and said they were able to sleep in their homes for the first time in four days. Still, many opted to spend the night in community bunkers, unsure whether the truce would last.
“There was fear that the ceasefire may not hold,” a local resident told The Indian Express over the phone. “So many villagers preferred the safety of bunkers.”
Srinagar, which had experienced blasts Saturday evening even after the ceasefire was announced, began showing signs of normalcy on Sunday. Commercial activity slowly resumed, though a palpable sense of anxiety remained among the population.
While the ceasefire appears to have taken effect on the ground, the situation remains fluid. Officials and civilians alike are watching developments closely, wary of any misstep that could reignite conflict. The recent violence underscores the volatility of the region and the fragile nature of peace along one of the most militarized borders in the world.
As the dust begins to settle, residents are left hoping that the ceasefire is more than a pause — that it might mark the start of longer-term de-escalation and dialogue.
