Kashmiri women comfort each other on May 8 in their home, damaged by cross-border shelling in Salamabad village, near the Line of Control, before a ceasefire agreement was reached to end the deadliest clashes between India and Pakistan in more than 20 years. © AP

India-Pakistan ceasefire relief gives way to doubts over future 'red lines'

Trump role in truce unclear, but economy, trade issues loom over both countries

KIRAN SHARMA, ADNAN AAMIR and YUJI KURONUMA

May 23, 2025 06:00 JST

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD/TOKYO -- After more than three days of high tension, residents of Pakistan and India woke up to relative calm on May 11. Cross-border drone, missile and jet attacks had given way to a ceasefire -- first signaled by none other than U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming credit for the truce.

Trump's exact part in the truce remains unclear: His claim was quickly rejected by New Delhi, while Islamabad welcomed his "constructive role." Whatever happened behind the scenes, relief was palpable on both sides of the border as citizens began to resume going about their regular daily routines, be it making plans to watch cricket matches in Rawalpindi or organizing holiday arrangements in India.