Residents in Indian-administered Kashmir heaved a cautious sigh of relief after nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire after days of cross-border hostilities. Pakistan and India announced on Saturday that they agreed on an immediate ceasefire. The announcement came following four days of military strikes on each other. The uneasy calm has brought relief to people in both countries, especially those living near the Line of Control (LoC) - the de facto border dividing the Himalayan region claimed by both nations. Locals are returning to their lives after tensions ran high for more than two weeks. Markets and shops in Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir, are reopening without the fear of further escalation. "Here in Kashmir, the atmosphere has been tense, and business had come to a standstill. So there's hope now that things will get better," said Asif Shafiq, a resident. Fighting between the two countries started on Wednesday after New Delhi carried out deadly airstrikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, thus evoking a strong response from Islamabad. The airstrikes were undertaken to avenge last month's killing of 26 people by gunmen in Pahalgam, about 89 km east of Srinagar. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the gunmen, a charge that Pakistan denied. "The ceasefire that was announced yesterday -- if we look at the build-up over the past week, starting with what happened in Pahalgam and then the escalation between the two countries -- we must keep in mind that these are nuclear powers," said Abid, another resident. In past week, more than a dozen civilians -- among them children -- have been killed in fighting along the border. While both the countries were locked in an exchange of violence, residents mostly stayed indoors fearing escalation. "We Kashmiris have always longed for peace. We have never wanted violence, nor will we ever want it. But the peace we seek should not be the peace of a graveyard -- we want peace in the real sense and spirit," said Imtiyaz Ali, a resident. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir - May 11, 2025 1. Various of city square, pedestrians, traffic; 2. SOUNDBITE (Urdu, dubbed in English) Asif Shafiq, resident: "Here in Kashmir, the atmosphere has been tense, and business had come to a standstill. So there's hope now that things will get better."; 3. SOUNDBITE (Urdu, dubbed in English) Abid (full name not given): "The ceasefire that was announced yesterday -- if we look at the build-up over the past week, starting with what happened in Pahalgam and then the escalation between the two countries -- we must keep in mind that these are nuclear powers."; 4. Various of broken windows, broken wall hit by bullet; 5. Various of broken car, house windows; 6. SOUNDBITE (Urdu, dubbed in English) Imtiyaz Ali, a resident: "We Kashmiris have always longed for peace. We have never wanted violence, nor will we ever want it. But the peace we seek should not be the peace of a graveyard -- we want peace in the real sense and spirit."; 7. Various of pedestrians, merchants at roadside; 8. Various of boats on river. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]