Misri: Pakistan Violated Ceasefire Hours Later

Ceasefire in Tatters: Pakistan Backtracks Within Hours, Provokes Indian Response with Fresh Violations

 

 

Hours after India and Pakistan agreed to halt all military operations following four intense days of cross-border hostilities, the fragile ceasefire lies in jeopardy. Pakistani forces, in a move eerily reminiscent of past betrayals, reportedly violated the agreement late Saturday evening with fresh shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, drone intrusions, and explosions that shook civilian areas including Srinagar.

Informed defence sources confirmed that Indian forward positions in Baramulla and Kupwara came under heavy mortar fire post-6 PM, barely an hour after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect. The Indian Army responded swiftly but with calibrated restraint, signalling New Delhi's intent to honour the agreement without tolerating aggression.

Adding to the tension, there were confirmed sightings of unidentified aerial vehicles—likely armed drones—crossing into Indian airspace in multiple sectors across Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir. While no strikes were confirmed, the breach of airspace post-ceasefire marks a dangerous escalation in hybrid warfare tactics employed by Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had announced the ceasefire at 6 PM IST, noting that it was the outcome of direct military-to-military talks. His announcement followed an unexpected intervention by US President Donald Trump, who took to social media to claim credit for brokering the truce. Yet, Misri returned to the podium at 11 PM in a hastily convened press briefing to declare that Pakistan had already violated the ceasefire. “The Indian armed forces have responded adequately and appropriately,” he stated, underscoring the seriousness with which Delhi views the violations.

Sources within South Block suggest that while India is not seeking escalation, it remains fully prepared for all contingencies. "We hoped for de-escalation. Instead, we see provocation. Pakistan’s duplicity is, unfortunately, not new,” said a senior official familiar with the developments.

The ceasefire agreement, the first of its kind since the 2003 understanding, was meant to provide a breather after the worst bout of hostilities in decades. Analysts had hoped it would mark a turning point in Indo-Pak ties, especially with both nations grappling with domestic economic pressures and global geopolitical shifts. However, Saturday evening’s violations have rekindled deep mistrust, especially in Indian defence circles hardened by years of experience.

In a dramatic late-night televised address, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Pakistan had “defended its sovereignty” and thanked the armed forces along with nations like the US, China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia for supporting peace efforts. Sharif’s attempt to portray the ceasefire as a diplomatic win rang hollow against the backdrop of shelling and drone activity.

India, however, views the ceasefire breach as a deliberate act of duplicity aimed at extracting a propaganda victory while destabilising border regions. "This isn't about peace. It's about posturing. Islamabad wants the optics of restraint while fuelling tactical aggression along the LoC,” noted a former Indian Army Corps Commander with operational experience in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry, for its part, issued a bland statement on Sunday claiming “restraint and responsibility” while ironically accusing India of violations. This rhetorical sleight of hand is typical of Islamabad’s attempts to deflect global attention from its own infractions, say analysts.

The shelling in the Uri sector and reports of an explosion in Srinagar, possibly linked to drone-dropped ordnance, raise the spectre of a return to asymmetric conflict—one in which Pakistan leverages non-conventional tactics to provoke and destabilise, without overt large-scale military engagement.

The Indian security establishment is closely monitoring the situation. High-level reviews were conducted late Saturday night, with inputs from the Northern Command, and the National Security Council Secretariat. Defence officials confirm that India’s response will remain “measured but firm” unless provocations continue, in which case “all options remain on the table.”

For now, what was touted as a diplomatic breakthrough lies buried under smoke and shrapnel, as New Delhi once again confronts the hard truth that trust in Rawalpindi's promises is often misplaced.