POONCH: Residents of the town in Indian-administered Kashmir worst hit by the deadliest fighting in decades with Pakistan trickled back on Sunday, a day after a surprise truce. Over 60 people died in days of days of missile, drone and artillery attacks that came close to all-out war until the ceasefire, which was holding on Sunday despite early alleged violations. Most of the dead were civilians and the majority Pakistanis. On the Indian side, Poonch on the Indian-run part of divided Kashmir bore the brunt, with at least 12 people killed at 49 injured, according to officials. They included 12-year-old Zian Khan and his twin sister Urwa Fatima, hit by an artillery shell on Wednesday as their parents tried to leave the town. The majority of the 60,000-strong population fled in cars, on buses and even on foot, leaving only a few thousand to brave it out.
Tariq Ahmad arrived back on Sunday bringing back 20 people in his bus as signs of life and activity returned to Poonch's streets. "Most who fled are still afraid and will wait and watch to see if this agreement holds," the 26-year-old driver said at the main bus terminal. "Luckily, I managed to pick up 20 people from nearby villages who wanted to check if their homes and belongings survived the intense Pakistani shelling."
The ceasefire was agreed on Saturday after four days of fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and sent thousands fleeing — the worst violence since India and Pakistan's last open conflict in 1999. The "full and immediate" halt to hostilities was unexpectedly announced by US President Donald Trump on social media, who said that it followed a "long night of talks mediated by the United States".
Trump later praised the leaders of India and Pakistan for understanding that "it was time to stop the current aggression", and also pledging to increase trade "substantially" with both nations. But India's foreign secretary said early on Sunday that New Delhi had retaliated after Pakistan's "repeated violations" of the truce. Pakistan said it "remains committed" to the ceasefire and that its forces were handling violations by India with "responsibility and restraint".
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X that his country -- which has long sought international mediation in Kashmir — "appreciates" the US intervention. India has consistently opposed mediation, however, and observers were sceptical of the truce. News of the ceasefire was met with relief from countries including Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations.
China, which borders India and Pakistan, said it was "willing to continue playing a constructive role" and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. "The days ahead will be critical to see whether the ceasefire holds and gives way to relative normalcy," read an editorial in Dawn, Pakistan's leading English language newspaper. "While foreign friends can certainly help create a conducive atmosphere, it is Islamabad and New Delhi that will have to do the heavy lifting themselves to secure peace."
Poonch lies about 145 miles from Jammu, the second largest city in Indian-administered Kashmir. Hazoor Sheikh, 46, who runs a store in the main market, was one of the first few people to reopen his shop. "Finally, after days, we could sleep peacefully," he said. "It is not just me or my family but everyone around finally had a smile yesterday," he added.
"I nervously returned a short while back to check on my shop," 40-year-old Mushtaq Qureshi said. "Our families and neighbours were all separated as people fled to villages or relatives' homes for safety. But we are happy to be back today and to see each other again," he said. Qureshi had left his home with about 20 relatives. "Buildings around our neighbourhood were hit but luckily nothing has happened to my home," he said. — AFP
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