A CEASEFIRE between India and Pakistan was shaken in the early hours of this morning by fighting in the disputed Kashmir region.

People on both sides of the Line of Control, which divides the territory, reported heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops. 

The fighting appeared to have subsided by this morning.

Both countries had agreed to a truce a day earlier after talks to defuse their most serious military confrontation in decades. The escalation in violence began last week after a gun massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month. 

India blamed the attack on Pakistan, which denied any involvement.

As part of the ceasefire, the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to immediately stop all military action on land, air and sea. But just hours later they accused each other of repeatedly violating the deal.

Drones were spotted on Saturday night over Indian-controlled Kashmir and the western state of Gujarat, according to Indian officials.

In the Poonch area of Indian-controlled Kashmir, people said intense shelling over the past few days had traumatised them.

“Most people ran as shells were being fired,” said college student Sosan Zehra, who returned home today. “It was completely chaotic.”

In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, which is two miles from the Line of Control, residents said there were exchanges of fire and heavy shelling after the ceasefire began.

“We were happy about the announcement but, once again, the situation feels uncertain,” said Mohammad Zahid.

US President Donald Trump was the first to post about the ceasefire deal, announcing it on his Truth Social platform. Indian and Pakistani officials confirmed the news shortly after.

India and Pakistan’s top military officials are scheduled to speak on Monday.

The two nations have fought daily since Wednesday along the rugged and mountainous Line of Control, which is marked by razor wire coils, watchtowers and bunkers that snake across foothills populated by villages, tangled bushes and forests.

The fighting has drawn attention from militaries across the world, with the apparent downing of an Indian French-built Rafale fighter jet by a Pakistani Chinese-built J-10 the first combat test between the most advanced Chinese and Western aircraft.

Kashmir is split between and claimed by both countries.

They have fought two of their three wars over the region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion.