India and Pakistan Commit to Border Troop Reduction in Ceasefire Talks
NEW DELHI: In a significant step toward de-escalation, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan agreed on Monday to reduce troop deployments along their shared borders and forward areas, following a ceasefire agreement reached two days earlier. The decision came during a 45-minute hotline conversation between India’s Lt General Rajiv Ghai and Pakistan’s Major General Kashif Abdullah, marking their second dialogue since Saturday’s commitment to halt all military actions.
The Indian Army issued a statement emphasizing that the talks focused on upholding the mutual pledge to avoid firing “a single shot” or engaging in any aggressive actions against each other. “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,” the statement said. Both sides also agreed to explore immediate measures to scale back military presence in border regions to ease tensions.
The ceasefire, established on May 10, followed four days of intense hostilities triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor, during which both nations targeted each other’s military installations with drones, missiles, and long-range weapons. The Indian Armed Forces reported that a robust counter-drone and air defense system successfully thwarted Pakistani attempts to strike multiple military and civilian targets last week. On Monday, the Indian military released additional visual evidence showcasing damage inflicted on 13 Pakistani military sites during retaliatory strikes.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, asserting that India would not tolerate “nuclear blackmail” and that operations against Pakistan had only been paused, with future actions contingent on Pakistan’s behavior. The DGMO talks, initially scheduled for noon, were delayed to 5 p.m., but the Indian Army noted that Sunday night remained largely peaceful along Jammu & Kashmir and other border areas, with no reported incidents, marking a rare calm after recent tensions.
The agreement to reduce troops offers hope for de-escalation but comes amid lingering concerns, including the case of Border Security Force constable Purnam Kumar Sahu, who inadvertently crossed into Pakistan on April 23 and remains in custody. His family expressed hope to The Indian Express that the ongoing military dialogue might address his situation.