Cautious hope on Srinagar’s streets after surprise ceasefire

In Srinagar, the air is thick with anxiety and cautious optimism after an unexpected ceasefire declaration between India and Pakistan. For many like Abdul — who fled the border village of Uri with his family — the news came as both relief and uncertainty.

Awakened by deafening blasts, Abdul gathered essentials at dawn and made his way to the capital. Now staying in a cramped one-bedroom flat, he first learned of the ceasefire not through official channels, but from Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social. The buzz was quickly confirmed by messages of relief from his colleagues in the UK and India.

Yet Abdul remains skeptical. “The fighting may have paused, but I don’t believe it’s over,” he says. That unease is reflected across the region. Shops remain shuttered. Streets, normally buzzing with activity, are eerily quiet. Fear still clings to daily life.

He isn’t ready to return just yet. “Maybe in a few days. For now, I won’t risk it,” Abdul adds, echoing a sentiment shared by many displaced residents who are weighing hope against hard-earned caution.

The ceasefire, while a welcome development, hasn’t erased the trauma of recent violence or the memories of past flare-ups. As life in Kashmir hangs in fragile balance, trust will take time to rebuild.

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