Aizawl: Congregants across Mizoram - including Christians, Hindus, and Muslims gathered on Sunday in their respective churches, temples and mosques to offer special prayers for the Indian Armed Forces and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
This unified act of devotion comes in the wake of a US-brokered ceasefire that appears to have held overnight following four days of intense military exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Military officials from India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the operational details of the ceasefire agreement, which was reached over the weekend. The outcome of these talks could be crucial to preventing further escalation.
On Monday, the Indian government announced the reopening of 32 airports that had been closed due to security concerns, signaling cautious optimism in the wake of the agreement.
The violent exchanges began after India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting alleged terrorist training camps in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation triggered a sharp military response from Pakistan, leading to sustained shelling and airspace violations.
According to a Scroll.in report, 21 Indian civilians - including five children - were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the four days of hostilities. The Indian Armed Forces also suffered five fatalities in the line of duty.
This latest flare-up is a continuation of the decades-long conflict over Kashmir, a Himalayan region that both India and Pakistan claim in full but administer in parts.
In Mizoram, a state known for its religious harmony, Sunday's interfaith prayers represented a collective plea for peace. From Christian hymns in Aizawl's Presbyterian and Baptist churches to chants in Hindu temples and prayers in mosques, people of all faiths came together in a shared call for an end to violence.
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