Pakistan, India DGMOs hold first round of talks

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Two days after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between Pakistan and India following intense fighting, the military operations chiefs (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan had a first round of talks to discuss the next steps to douse the flames on Monday.

Security sources confirmed that Pakistan’s DGMO Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah and his Indian counterpart Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai spoke to each other over hotline. The two leaders are scheduled to have a detailed discussion in the coming days on modalities of the ceasefire agreement the two countries reached after US president’s intervention.

Indian media reported on Monday morning that the two military officers had a communication over hotline. Later, they claimed that the telephonic talk between the DGMOs had been delayed. Pakistan’s security sources said the two officers spoke over hotline and completed the first round of talks.

In a related development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States supported direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continuous efforts to improve relations between the two nations. In a phone conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Secretary of State Rubio discussed the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Both leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining a ceasefire and keeping communication channels open between the South Asian neighbours.

Secretary Rubio also held separate telephonic discussion with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and reaffirmed the US stance on the war in Ukraine. Nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India agreed on a ceasefire on Saturday last following the US pressure and four days of intense fighting. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the country remained committed to the ceasefire. “Our forces are handling the situation responsibly and with restraint,” the ministry said.

It further urged troops on the ground to exercise restraint and noted that any issues related to the ceasefire implementation should be resolved through communication at appropriate levels. This recent escalation marked the worst fighting between the long-time South Asian rivals in nearly three decades, raising fears of a full-scale war in one of the world’s most volatile and densely populated regions.