Fragile ceasefire holds between India and Pakistan as US offers help

Islamabad welcomes Trump's pledge to help S. Asian arch-rivals find Kashmir solution

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AMRITSAR, India/MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan — A ceasefire between India and Pakistan was holding on May 11 after each side blamed the other for initial violations, as US President Donald Trump vowed to help the arch-rivals find a solution on the disputed Kashmir region.

The truce that took effect one day earlier followed four days of intense fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

In the worst fighting in nearly three decades, they fired missiles and drones at each other's military installations, killing almost 70 people.

Diplomacy and pressure from the US helped secure the ceasefire deal, but within hours of it coming into force, artillery fire was witnessed in Indian Kashmir, the centre of much of last week's fighting.

Blasts from air-defence systems boomed in cities near the border under a blackout, similar to those heard during the previous two evenings, according to the authorities, residents and Reuters witnesses.

Late on May 10, India said Pakistan had violated the ceasefire. Pakistan said it was committed to the agreement and blamed India for the violations.

The fighting and explosions died down by dawn, according to Reuters witnesses, and power was restored in most border areas in India after a blackout on the night of May 10.