The director generals military operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India communicated via hotline on Monday, agreeing to take immediate measures to ensure the reduction of troops along their shared borders and forward areas.
In a statement, the Indian military said Pakistan’s Maj. Gen. Kashif Abdullah and his Indian counterpart Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai had discussed issues pertaining to a commitment from both sides to not engage in any more cross-border firing or similar aggressive actions. Sources from both militaries said talks would resume in 48 hours.
The desire for a détente between the military officials contradicted aggressive posturing from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who ended his self-imposed silence to maintain the ceasefire was a “pause” and India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan was not yet concluded.
The discussion happened after U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced Washington had brokered a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed states following several days of intense fighting. There were scattered, but unverified, reports of projectiles and explosions on Saturday night but both countries’ militaries have said no further violations occurred on Sunday or Monday nights.
The neighboring states had come to the brink of war last week after India fired missiles on various cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, claiming it targeted “terrorist camps.” Islamabad vehemently denied the allegation, maintaining Delhi had struck civilian infrastructure, martyring 31 civilians, including women and children, and injuring dozens more. Pakistan’s defensive measures reportedly resulted in the downing of several Indian fighter jets, though India had yet to formally confirm the losses.
Despite claiming it would then proceed to de-escalation, India continued its unprovoked aggression with drones. On Saturday morning, it targeted Pakistan’s airbases, prompting Islamabad to retaliate with Operation Bunyan al Marsoos. Using precision-guided long-range Fatah series missiles and precision munitions, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 26 Indian military targets were hit, as well as facilities used to target Pakistani citizens.
India used an April 22 terrorist attack in India-held Kashmir’s Pahalgam as the inciting factor for the latest standoff. Within minutes of the attack, without any evidence, Delhi blamed Pakistan and vowed a severe response. India then scaled down diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced it was holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Islamabad, in response, took counter measures, halting all trade with India, closing its airspace for Indian planes, and also scaling down diplomatic ties.
Both countries are now declaring “victory” in the conflict, with neutral experts maintaining that initial information suggests India lost more than Pakistan, but the situation would only become more clear after Delhi shares details of its operations, which it has avoided doing in contrast to Islamabad.