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Indian and Pakistani military officials are set to meet Monday to finalize details of a ceasefire agreed on Saturday after four days of intense cross-border fighting, according to BBC.

The US-brokered truce has held overnight, allaying fears of a wider battle between the nuclear-armed foes. President Donald Trump announced the accord, demanding an end to hostilities that could result in significant casualties.

Both nations remain on high alert, warning about cease-fire violations. The clashes, centered on the disputed Kashmir region, left dozens dead and marked the worst escalation in recent years. Despite the truce, both sides have claimed victory, BBC reported.

US President Trump says India, Pakistan have agreed to full, immediate ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire.

Trump announced the ceasefire from his account on the Truth Social Platform. “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire,” he said.

“Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence,” he added. Both India and Pakistan have confirmed that two countries have reached an agreement. 

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan’s actions over the last few days are being seen as “provocative and escalatory”. Speaking in the press conference, Col Sofiya Qureshi further said during the briefing that Pakistan tried to attack air base in Punjab. Col Qureshi also said that Pakistan military is observed to be moving their troops to border areas. Apart from targeting military bases, Pakistan also targeted medical facilities in Srinagar, Avantipura and Udhampur, Qureshi said on Saturday morning.

The Indian foreign secretary reiterated India’s commitment to non-escalation provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military. Misri also refuted Pakistan’s claims of missiles being fired at religious site and termed it “ludicrous”.

Pakistan’s foreign minister said Saturday that if India stops its escalatory actions, so will Islamabad. “If there is an iota of sanity, India will stop and if they stop, so will we,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on camera while speaking with a local TV station. Pakistan said Saturday that India launched missiles at key military bases, including a base close to the capital Islamabad. Shortly after, Pakistan’s military said it had launched an operation against India in retaliation to those latest strikes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir on Friday and urged both Pakistan and India to find ways to de-escalate.

A US Department Of State spokesperson said Rubio also offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts.

The coalition government of the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML has unveiled its annual policies and programs without any major disagreements between the two parties. Parliamentarians are currently deliberating on the policy document, with some NC leaders expressing reservations, noting that certain core agendas of the UML appear to have been prioritized. Historically, the annual program and budget have often sown discord among coalition partners. Lawmakers are now offering their suggestions on the policy document. Meanwhile, the main opposition, CPN (Maoist Center), has expressed dissatisfaction, particularly over the omission of several projects previously announced by Pushpa Kamal Dahal.To preempt potential tensions over the budget, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel has begun consultations with NC leaders, while also continuing dialogue with the Maoist Center.

A recent friendly exchange between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Chair Dahal has sparked speculation, with some political analysts predicting a possible collaboration between the two communist parties. However, the UML leadership has concluded that recent efforts to destabilize the government have lost momentum. Some believe that while the NC is negotiating with the government over key positions, Oli is attempting to increase his leverage by adopting a conciliatory approach toward Dahal.

Meanwhile, Dahal’s repeated overtures to the NC have failed to yield meaningful results. NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba reiterated this week that there are no significant problems within the coalition. On the delay in appointing the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Deuba attributed it to internal issues within the NRB, denying any inter-party disagreement. His remarks come amid reports suggesting that disputes over the appointment could strain the coalition—an argument supported by past experiences where minor issues, rather than ideological differences, led to the collapse of alliances.

The ongoing pro-monarchy protests have weakened significantly, though royalist parties and allied groups continue to mobilize. Buoyed by an increase in supporters, former King Gyanendra Shah has been meeting royalist forces to encourage continued protests. Learning from the violent March 28 protest in Tinkune, the former king now appears to be backing political outfits such as the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The pro-monarchy movement under Navaraj Subedi has announced an indefinite protest beginning May 29. Subedi has managed to bring RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden, RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa and Keshar Bahadur Bista into his fold—an unexpected development, given Lingden’s earlier reluctance to accept Subedi's leadership. This comes against the backdrop of a meeting between Shah and RPP leaders.

Relations between the NC and China, strained since 2015, are slowly improving. After a prolonged hiatus, senior NC leaders are visiting China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which appears to be stepping up its outreach. This week, NC President Deuba, senior leaders Shekhar Koirala, Shashank Koirala and others attended a photo exhibition on Nepal-China ties. At the event, Deuba reaffirmed NC’s commitment to the one-China policy and pledged that Nepali soil would not be used for anti-China activities—messages well received by the Chinese side.

Prime Minister Oli has also continued efforts to make appointments to transitional justice bodies. This week, he met with Dahal to discuss the matter, but no significant progress was made. Sources close to the discussions admit that the appointments are complex, with divisions not only among political parties but also among conflict victims and various domestic and international stakeholders. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said the government is committed to addressing victims’ concerns. However, Nepal’s human rights community—seen as having a significant stake in the process—is often accused of obstructing progress due to personal or institutional interests.

Nepal has stepped up security across border areas, airports and other sensitive zones in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The situation intensified after India launched “Operation Sindoor,” conducting airstrikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, including one Nepali citizen.

In other developments, the United States has announced an 85 percent cut in USAID programs, citing a shift to align foreign aid with American strategic interests. The US has started transferring the remaining programs that match its revised priorities. In Nepal, the future of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) remains uncertain, and the US has not clarified the status of remaining USAID-funded projects.

President Donald Trump termed escalating tensions between India and Pakistan "a shame" and urged a swift resolution following India's strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The move followed a militant strike on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, according to Reuters.

Pakistan promised to respond, raising regional anxieties.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US is closely following the situation and has urged both sides to avoid escalation. He met with national security advisers from both countries, including India's Ajit Doval, who informed him on the strikes, Reuters reported.

While expressing support for India, the United States avoided condemning Pakistan and instead encouraged peaceful engagement. Analysts believe Washington may play a limited role in the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza.

"They'll figure it out one way or another," Trump declared.

India said that it had conducted strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, two weeks after 26 people including a Nepali, most of them tourists, were killed in a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry of India said that nine sites linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack were targeted.

India described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military facilities were hit.

The Indian Army declared on X, “Justice is served.”

Pakistan’s military claimed that India fired missiles from its own territory, killing three civilians and injuring 12, according to Dawn. Indian air defence units along the border have been put on high alert, The Hindu reported.

The UK and India have signed a trade agreement to reduce tariffs and boost exports. UK goods like whisky, gin, cars, food products, and medical devices will face lower duties in India, while Indian exports of clothing, footwear, jewellery, and seafood will become cheaper in the UK, according to BBC.

The deal, expected to take effect within a year, aims to increase bilateral trade by £25.5bn annually by 2040. Tariffs on UK whisky will drop from 150 percent to 75 percent, with further cuts to follow.

It also contains bilateral exemptions from double social security contributions for personnel temporarily transferred between the two nations.

Officials hailed the pact as a significant boost to commerce and jobs, while some UK politicians expressed worries about its tax implications, BBC reported.

The Indian government has unexpectedly dismissed Krishnamurthy Subramanian from his position on the IMF board, six months before his term was supposed to finish. This decision comes only days before a critical IMF board meeting to approve a $1.3bn climate resilience loan for Pakistan, Firstpost reported.

According to government sources, Subramanian's departure was due to his questioning of IMF figures, which occurred amid continuing conflicts between him and the institution. In addition, the former chief economic adviser is facing allegations of misconduct related to his book promotion.

The government has not yet named a replacement, though Finance Secretary Ajay Seth, who is set to retire in June, is being considered. Subramanian, who began his IMF post in November 2022, was appointed for a three-year tenure, as stated by the Firstpost.

The position, which represents India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka at the IMF, is now vacant, with Harischandra Pahath Kumbure Gedara listed as the alternate director.

At least six people were killed and around 80 others injured in a crowd crush at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, Goa, during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival on Friday night, Al Jazeera reported.

The tragedy occurred as tens of thousands of devotees gathered for the widely recognized event, which is famed for its firewalking ceremonies. Chaos broke out in a tiny, steep path near the temple, leading some to tumble and triggering a stampede, according to Director General of Police Alok Kumar.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed great grief and pledged his full support to the victims and their families. According to State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, five of the injured are still critically ill and on ventilator support, while others are receiving treatment in an emergency unit, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and said the local administration is assisting those affected.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Tuesday that his government objected to the inclusion of The Resistance Front (TRF) in a UN Security Council (UNSC) statement denouncing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Firstpost.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Dar stated that Pakistan had two major objections: the statement marked out Pahalgam without mentioning Jammu and Kashmir, and it mentioned TRF without providing sufficient evidence. As a result, neither the location nor any group were mentioned in the final UN Security Council statement.

The April 22 attack killed 26 individuals. TRF, apparently a subsidiary of Lashkar-e-Taiba, first claimed responsibility before later denying it. Dar denied media reports linking TRF to the incident, describing it as a local forum rather than a terrorist organization, Firstpost reported.

He also mentioned that the UNSC statement took more than two days to prepare due to Pakistan's demand on modifications.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Nepali citizen.

The CCS, comprising key ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, and Nirmala Sitharaman, strongly condemned the Pakistan-backed assault and was briefed on its cross-border links, Firstpost reported.

Officials emphasized that the attack occurred during peaceful elections and continuous development in Jammu and Kashmir. In a strong response, the government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, indicating a hardline stance against Pakistan's support for terrorism.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs to conduct a high-level security review.

The Prime Minister expressed entire trust in the military forces and gave them complete operational authority over the time, targets, and mode of response. He emphasized that India will continue to battle terrorism, according to the Firstpost.

Over half of the tourist destinations in India's insurgency-torn Kashmir region were closed to the public from Tuesday, according to a government order reviewed by Reuters, in a move to tighten security after last week's attack on holiday-makers, Reuters reported.

The assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.

India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.

Hindu-majority India accuses Islamic Pakistan of funding and encouraging militancy in Kashmir, the Himalayan region both nations claim in full but rule in part. Islamabad says it only provides moral and diplomatic support to a Kashmiri demand for self-determination, according to Reuters.

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have demolished the houses of at least 10 alleged militants and detained more people for questioning as investigations continue into last week's killings of 26 people, BBC reported.

Indian security forces have used explosives to destroy the properties since last Tuesday's attack on tourists. At least one was reportedly linked to a suspect named in the shootings.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants behind the killings, but has named no group it blames. Islamabad rejects the allegations.

It was the deadliest attack on civilians in two decades in the disputed territory. Both India and Pakistan claim the region and have fought two wars over it, according to BBC.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned Monday of a possible Indian military incursion following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, Firstpost reported.

Asif said Pakistan had reinforced its forces and taken strategic decisions in response to the perceived threat. He emphasized that Pakistan would use nuclear weapons only if its existence were directly threatened.

India has blamed Pakistan for the attack at Pahalgam, but Islamabad denies involvement and has called for an independent investigation. Asif emphasized that India's language was becoming more aggressive, and that the Pakistani military had briefed the government on the possibility of escalation, according to the Firstpost.

The attack has heightened tensions between the two countries, who have fought multiple conflicts over the disputed Kashmir region.

The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets like Dawn News and ARY News, accusing them of spreading provocative content. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s channel, with over 3.5 million subscribers was also restricted, according to the Firstpost.

The action follows a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed. Officials said the banned channels were found disseminating misinformation aimed at inciting communal tensions, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Individual channels owned by Pakistani journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq were also attacked, as were channels such as The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.

As stated by the Firstpost, the Indian government sent a strongly worded letter to the BBC, protesting to the portrayal of the Pahalgam attackers as "militants" in its reporting. Authorities stated that they will closely examine the BBC's future coverage on the matter.