Ceasefire sparks relief, confusion, and renewed tensions across border states as India revises security doctrine
NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan reached a sudden and dramatic ceasefire agreement on Saturday following a sharp escalation of cross-border hostilities after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that left 26 civilians dead. The truce, brokered with intense US diplomatic engagement, has since triggered a whirlwind of developments — including violations, military action, and a significant shift in India’s security doctrine, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The breakthrough came just hours after US President Donald Trump hailed the ceasefire as a “historic and heroic decision” and claimed credit for facilitating the agreement through direct outreach. US Vice President JD Vance reportedly contacted Prime Minister Modi after presenting intelligence to Trump, warning of an imminent escalation if action was not taken.
Despite the truce, Srinagar was rocked by loud explosions Saturday evening, prompting former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to question the validity of the ceasefire. Pakistani drones once again entered Indian airspace, triggering air raid sirens across Udhampur, Srinagar, and parts of Jammu, and forcing precautionary blackouts in Punjab, Rajasthan, and J&K.
The ceasefire saw swift diplomatic praise, but was soon followed by explosions, drone intrusions, and political fallout, raising questions over its sustainability.
In one incident, an alert sentry at Nagrota Military Station repelled a suspected intrusion, sustaining minor injuries during an exchange of fire. The Army’s White Knight Corps launched a search operation shortly after.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing, said: “This understanding is being violated by Pakistan… This intrusion is extremely condemnable. Pakistan must take immediate steps to halt such actions.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Indian NSA Ajit Doval, who reaffirmed India’s preference for peace while reiterating that counter-terrorism actions were necessary following the Pahalgam attack. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also stressed India’s uncompromising stand against terrorism despite the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Amritsar was placed under red alert early Sunday, urging residents to remain indoors due to possible security threats. However, the situation in Jammu city and Poonch remained stable, with no further incidents reported overnight.
Crucially, India announced a major shift in its security doctrine just before the ceasefire. The government declared that every act of terrorism will henceforth be treated as an “act of war,” thereby lowering the threshold for military retaliation.
This revised stance is a marked departure from previous postures and effectively formalizes India’s response pattern seen during earlier attacks like Uri (2016), Pulwama (2019), and Pahalgam (2025).
As the situation evolves, the durability of the ceasefire — and the region’s future peace — remains uncertain.
