India and Pakistan DGMOs hold talks, commit to no firing

New Delhi: After four days of intense conflict, the Director General of Military Operations of the Indian, and Pakistan Army spoke over the hotline on Monday and decided to continue with the commitment of not firing a single shot at each other.

They have also agreed upon considering steps for troop reduction from the border and forward areas besides not initiating any aggressive behaviour.

The talks between Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Indian DGMO and his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah took place at 5 pm, though it was originally scheduled at 12 noon. The two officers decided to talk on the hotline on Monday when they agreed on the ceasefire on Saturday.

“Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed. It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas,” the Indian Army said in a brief statement.

But within hours of the DGMO talks, a small number of suspected drones were sighted near Samba in J&K in the evening, Army sources said. “The drones are being engaged and there is no need to be alarmed,” said an officer.

Sunday night remained largely peaceful across Jammu & Kashmir and other areas along the International Border with no report of any incident of aggression, marking the first calm night in recent days.

Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the Indian armed forces hit nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, but Pakistan military launched a counter attack targeting Indian civil and military installation.

India struck back with the IAF hitting hard at multiple Pakistani military establishments, leading to a ceasefire agreement, as decided by the two DGMOs, on Saturday.

But the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire decision within a couple of hours, forcing India to send a second strong message across the border on Sunday.

On Sunday Lt Gen Ghai said, “My communication with the Pak DGMO was conducted at 15:35 hours yesterday and resulted in cessation of cross-border firing and air intrusions by either side with effect from 17:00 hrs, May 10 after he proposed that we cease hostilities. We also decided to further speak on May 12 at 1200 hrs to discuss the modalities that would enable the longevity of this understanding.”

“However, disappointingly, expectedly it took only a couple of hours for Pakistan Army to violate these arrangements by cross border and across Line of Control firing followed by drone intrusions These violations were responded to robustly. We have earlier today sent another hotline message to my counterpart highlighting these violations of the understanding between the DGMOs,” he said at a media briefing on Sunday.