India, Pakistan claim victory after US-brokered ceasefire

India and Pakistan have both declared victory following a ceasefire brokered over the weekend by the US, bringing a temporary halt to the most serious military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in decades, reports The Guardian.

The ceasefire, announced late Saturday by US President Donald Trump, came after days of missile and drone strikes exchanged between the two nations. 

The offensive included targeted attacks on major military installations, bringing the region to the brink of full-scale war.

On Sunday, Trump congratulated both sides for showing "the strength, wisdom and fortitude" to step back from the conflict. "It was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much," he said.

Initial uncertainty

Within hours of the ceasefire announcement, reports of renewed shelling along the disputed Line of Control in Kashmir raised doubts about the truce's viability. 

However, by Sunday morning, calm had returned to the border region, raising cautious optimism that the fragile peace might hold.

Each side accused the other of initiating post-ceasefire violations. Pakistan issued a statement saying it remained "committed to faithful implementation of [the] ceasefire," while India warned through its military hotline that further provocations would be met with "firm and clear" retaliation.

Mutual claims of victory

Despite the continuing tensions, both countries were quick to frame the ceasefire as a domestic triumph.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded "Operation Sindoor",  calling it a symbol of India's "political, social and strategic  willpower."  

He claimed the "roar of Indian forces reached Rawalpindi," referring to the headquarters of the Pakistani army.

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared May 11 a national day to recognise the military's response. Parades were held near the border, and flower petals were showered on soldiers. 

"This was a calculated victory," wrote Dawn columnist Baqir Sajjad, arguing Pakistan had "firmly denied a much stronger India the military edge and diplomatic narrative it sought to dominate".

Raja Farooq Haider Khan, a former leader of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, led rallies celebrating the military's actions and thanked Trump for his intervention. "But unless the Kashmir issue is resolved, long-term peace cannot prevail," he added.

Voices from the ground

In border regions on both sides, civilians expressed relief — but also skepticism.

Sahad, a resident of Pakistan-controlled Neelum Valley, said the past few days were "the scariest of her life", according to The Guardian report published on Sunday.  

"No one can be happier than us… Everyone is happy to have our normal lives back," she said.

On the Indian side, Lal Din, 55, from Poonch — one of the worst-hit areas — voiced doubts about the durability of peace. "We're just numbers in this clash of nuclear powers," he said. 

"Resolve your differences, live in peace, and let us live."

Tensions escalated rapidly following Indian missile strikes on nine sites inside Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 31 people. 

India said the attacks targeted "terrorist infrastructure" in response to a deadly assault in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, in which 25 Hindu tourists and a guide were killed. India blamed Pakistani-backed extremists for the attack, which Pakistan denied. 

Pakistan responded to India's missile strikes with drone and missile strikes over two consecutive nights, heightening fears of uncontrolled escalation.

US-led diplomatic push

The ceasefire was reportedly the result of intense 48-hour diplomatic efforts led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, alongside contributions from Saudi Arabia and the UK. 

Initially, Vance had dismissed the conflict as "none of our business", but growing fears of a nuclear escalation prompted a policy shift, sources said.

The White House said Trump personally engaged in talks with leaders from both nations, and pledged increased US trade with both India and Pakistan as part of future stabilisation efforts.

Conflicting claims and casualties

Indian military officials said five of their soldiers were killed in the exchanges and claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on Pakistan — including the deaths of 40 Pakistani soldiers and 100 militants. India also claimed to have downed several Pakistani aircraft, though did not specify details.

Pakistan, meanwhile, claimed it had downed at least three Indian jets, including French-built Rafale fighters — a claim supported by some independent analysts. 

India acknowledged aircraft losses but downplayed their significance. 

"Losses are a part of conflict," an Indian spokesperson said, adding that all pilots had returned safely.