A ceasefire between India and Pakistan appears to be in hold after both sides accused each other of the initial breach, as the uneasy calm continued after decades of the worst outbreak of fighting between nuclear-weapon neighbors.
Senior Indian Army officials said the Indian military sent a "hotline message" to Pakistan on Sunday involving a violation of an agreed ceasefire and informed New Delhi of its intentions if the question was repeated.
The Director-General of Indian Military Operations (DGMO) spoke on Sunday when both sides blamed the other for suffering initial violations on Saturday night, which appeared to be a fragile 24-hour ceasefire.
The truce announced on Saturday that it had stopped missiles and drones fired in each country on their common border, killing nearly 70 people.
US diplomacy and pressure help secure a ceasefire agreement as conflict is spinning towards a full-scale war. Within hours of its entry into force, the Indian-managed Kashmir explosion was the center of most of last week's battles.
Local authorities, residents and witnesses say the explosions in air defense systems from cities near the border are booming, similar to those heard in the previous two nights.
“Sometimes, these understandings take time to fruit and show on the ground,” Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, India’s DGMO, told the media briefing, referring to a truce. “(Indian) armed forces are on a very, very high alert state (yesterday) and continue to be in the state.”
Ghai added that the Indian Army chief conferred the mission of its commander to deal with the "violation of any form" of the entire border in the best way.
He said his Pakistani opposition called him on Saturday afternoon and proposed that the two countries "stop hostilities" and urgently demanded a ceasefire.
There was no immediate response to Pakistan's Indian comments. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it was committed to an armistice agreement and accused India of violating the law.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it was achieved after talks mediated by Washington.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India and Pakistan also agreed to start negotiations on "a series of issues of neutral locations."
Although Islamabad thanked Washington for promoting the ceasefire and welcomed Trump’s proposal to mediate the Kashmir dispute with India, New Delhi has not commented on the U.S. involvement in the truce or conversations at neutral locations.
India believes that the dispute with Pakistan must be resolved directly by both countries and rejects any third party participation.
On Sunday, Trump praised the two countries for agreeing to stop aggressiveness and said they would "bigly" increase trade with them.
India India Most Indian and Muslim majority Pakistan ruled part of the controversial Kashmir but went all out and fought two wars in the Himalayas.
India blames Pakistan on a part of the territory, but Pakistan says it provides only moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris separatists.
Among those most affected by the battle, residents were on both sides of the border, many of whom fled their homes when the fight began on Wednesday, two weeks after the deadly attack in Indian-managed Kashmir, India said India said it was supported by Islamabad.
Pakistan denied the allegation.
Al Jazeera's Osama bin Javaid reported in Lahore, Pakistan that "it's been a tough night for many people in the border area".
“People say even when the ceasefire was announced, in the early morning, the entire night was bombarded.”
Despite people’s caution, they “haven’t returned home yet because they think it’s not over yet,” he said.
Overall, “there is joy and celebration,” added Bin Javaid.
In the Indian border city of Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple of Sikhs, people returned to the streets on Sunday morning as sirens sounded a recovery from normal activities in recent days of tensions.
"We have closed stores very early since the terrorist attack on Pahalgam and there is uncertainty. I'm glad that at least neither side will bleed."
Since the ceasefire was announced, another local resident pointed out the “calmness” and “happiness” of the entire Kashmir Valley.
"You can feel it in the air...but there seems to be some fear. Given the past history of both countries, will it keep it?" asked Muteeb Banday.
“(Kashmiris) want…lasting peace so that we can go and live, think about our future, and make our lives better.”
However, in some border areas, people are asked not to go home for the time being. In the Indian-managed Kashmir city of Baramulla, authorities warned residents to stay away due to the threat posed by unexploded ammunition.
"The people here have received great reception, but like a bird keeps peace in its own nest, we only feel comfortable in our own homes, even if they are damaged." Azam Chaudhry, 55, said he fled his home in the Pakistani town of Khuiratta and is now told to wait until Monday to return.
In the URI of Kashmir managed by India, the major power plants damaged in Pakistan’s drone attacks are still under repair.
An official at NHPC, India’s largest hydropower company, said: “The project suffered minor damage…we have stopped generating electricity.”