The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India established contact through a hotline on Wednesday afternoon, their third such communication since the two sides agreed to uphold a ceasefire facilitated by the United States and other friendly countries.
According to well-placed sources, the two military officials discussed the ground situation and agreed to maintain the status quo, with the ceasefire holding “for the time being”, in line with their previous discussion on Monday.
No official statement has been issued by either side regarding the conversation or its specific outcomes.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told The News that key global capitals remain actively engaged with both Islamabad and New Delhi, urging restraint and pressing for early confidence-building measures (CBMs) to pave the way for structured and high-level dialogue.
However, sources cautioned that the path to a structured dialogue is complex and will require extensive groundwork. Both governments will need to foster a politically conducive environment for such engagement.
To stabilise the fragile ceasefire, specific measures have already been agreed upon. Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary and spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, is expected to brief the media on Friday (tomorrow) and provide further insight into recent developments.
In a related development, diplomatic personnel recently declared persona non grata by both countries returned home on Tuesday, following orders to depart within 24 hours.
As a result, the strength of the respective high commissions has been reduced to 29 officials each.
Since the positions have not been formally abolished, new postings are expected once host nations issue the required visas, likely by August, sources added.
India and Pakistan ended four days of intense military fighting last week, during which they used jets, missiles, and drones after New Delhi attacked what it called terrorist camps in Pakistan.
The Indian strike came after an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 men.
Pakistan said it had nothing to do with the attack on the tourists, adding that India’s strike was aimed at civilian targets.
