On Monday, Major General Kashif Abdullah, the Director General of Military Operations for Pakistan, and his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, engaged in their initial discussions via hotline following the recent ceasefire between the two nations, which was prompted by a military conflict.
The ceasefire, declared by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, came after four days of heavy artillery exchanges, during which the nuclear-capable neighbors targeted each other’s military facilities with missiles and drones, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the discussions to Dawn.com, stating that the next round would occur within 48 hours, and noted that a ceasefire during this period is considered ‘quite standard.’ Additionally, state media outlets Radio Pakistan and PTV News corroborated the occurrence of the talks.
According to Reuters, the Indian army has verified that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) engaged in a telephone conversation today. The Indian army stated, ‘Discussions were held regarding the ongoing commitment that neither side should fire a single shot or undertake any hostile actions against one another.’ Furthermore, it was agreed that both parties would contemplate prompt actions to facilitate the reduction of troops along the borders and in forward positions.
The tensions between the nuclear-capable neighboring countries escalated after the attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. India suggested, without any investigation or substantiating evidence, that there were ‘cross-border connections’ to the attackers. Pakistan categorically denied this assertion and demanded an impartial investigation. In response to these allegations, India conducted multiple strikes on Pakistan during the night of May 6 and 7, leading to civilian casualties.
On Sunday, India’s military communicated a ‘hotline’ message to Pakistan regarding purported ceasefire violations that occurred the day before, indicating New Delhi’s readiness to address any further incidents, as reported by Reuters, citing a senior Indian army official. However, the Foreign Office and the spokesperson for the Pakistan military dismissed these claims. ‘Despite some minor damage, all of our military bases and systems remain completely operational,’ stated Air Marshal AK Bharti, India’s director general of air operations, during a media briefing today.
India has reopened 32 airports that were closed during the conflicts, with the Airports Authority of India confirming their availability for civil operations. Certain schools continue to remain closed. Meanwhile, Pakistan reopened its airspace on Saturday. Following the announcement, access to an airport in the border city of Amritsar was restricted for visitors, as reported by a witness from Reuters.
