Context:

After days of intense conflict involving missile, drone, and artillery strikes, India and Pakistan agreed to a cease-fire, although reports of ongoing violence persisted. The cease-fire was announced by President Trump, who claimed U.S. mediation, a claim contested by India, which stated the agreement was made directly between the two countries. The conflict was sparked by a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, leading to accusations from India that Pakistan was involved, which Pakistan denied. Heavy fighting had occurred with both countries targeting each other's military installations, leading to significant damage and casualties. The longstanding Kashmir dispute, rooted in the 1947 partition of British India, continues to fuel tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, with both sides blaming each other for supporting militancy in the region.

Dive Deeper:

• Following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, India accused Pakistan of involvement, which escalated into four days of missile, drone, and artillery exchanges between the two countries.

• President Trump announced a cease-fire, claiming U.S. mediation, but India disputed this, stating the agreement was reached bilaterally. Despite the cease-fire, reports of violence, including cross-border firing, continued.

• The conflict saw both sides targeting each other's military bases, with significant damage inflicted on installations such as the Nur Khan Air Base in Pakistan and multiple Indian airbases, amidst claims of 'eye for an eye' retaliation.

• The origins of the Kashmir dispute date back to the 1947 partition of British India, leading to a protracted conflict over the predominantly Muslim region divided by the Line of Control, with India and Pakistan controlling different parts.

• The insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir, fueled by local grievances and Pakistani support for militant groups, has persisted since the 1980s, leading to several military confrontations and a heavily militarized region.

• Efforts by countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to mediate have been ongoing, with global powers urging restraint amid fears of a full-scale war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

• The ongoing tensions and militarization of Kashmir pose significant regional security challenges, with both India and Pakistan having a history of brinkmanship and unresolved territorial disputes over the region.