ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that the US-mediated ceasefire with India has been extended until 18 May after a hotline contact between the military operation chiefs of both countries.
Addressing the Senate, Ishaq Dar said the ceasefire was extended during a hotline contact between the director general of military operations (DGMO) of the two sides on May 14.
Following the ceasefire between the nuclear-armed nations, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Major General Kashif Abdullah, and his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, held their first round of talks via hotline on May 10.
“During the DGMOs’ conversation, the ceasefire was extended until May 12. When the DGMOs spoke again on May 12, the ceasefire was extended until May 14. Further talks on May 14 led to the ceasefire being extended until May 18,” Ishaq Dar told the upper house.
To dispel confusion over the recent US-brokered ceasefire between Pakistan and India, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him on May 10 that New Delhi was prepared to ceasefire.
“On May 10 at around 8:15 am, I received a phone call from the US secretary of state, who informed me that India is ready to agree to a ceasefire,” he added.
“At that time, our phase-I operation was nearing completion,” the DPM said, adding that he told the top US diplomat that if New Delhi was ready to ceasefire, then Pakistan was also ready to do so.
The minister said that Pakistan wants peace in the region, but it will not accept any hegemonic designs or breach of its sovereignty. Dar added that the armed forces have successfully countered India’s hegemonic designs in the region.
The DPM stressed that the Indus Waters Treaty is a non-negotiable matter for Pakistan, adding that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty.
“This matter will now move to negotiations,” he said, adding that the dialogues with India would be “composite”.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, briefed Islamabad-based diplomatic missions on the recent escalation in Pakistan-India relations, outlining developments following the ceasefire agreement announced on 10 May.
The Foreign Secretary apprised the diplomatic corps of the implementation and progress of the ceasefire.
She underscored that, as a goodwill gesture, Pakistan and India exchanged the personnel of Pakistan Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force in each other’s custody yesterday.
She thanked the friendly nations for their constructive role in achieving the ceasefire.
