ISLAMABAD: The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India held their first contact via a hotline on Monday after the ceasefire, sources said.
Two days after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between Pakistan and India following intense fighting, Pakistan’s DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah and India’s DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai engaged in talks aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire and maintaining communication to prevent further escalation.
The DGMO-level talks mark a rare instance of direct military communication amid heightened tensions between countries. Pakistan and India agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire on Saturday following days of intense military exchanges that raised fears of a full-scale conflict.
The announcement was first made by US President Donald Trump and later confirmed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The ceasefire came after missile strikes, drone incursions, and retaliatory operations across the border.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that any prospective talks between Pakistan and India would focus on three main issues: the Kashmir dispute, terrorism, and water-related matters.
Speaking to a private TV channel, the Defence Minister said, “If talks are held between two nuclear-armed neighbours, they will focus on Kashmir, terrorism, and water-related matters.”
Khawaja Asif stressed that terrorism, a threat Pakistan has faced for the past two to three decades, continues to be a significant challenge for the country.
The Defence Minister also highlighted that Pakistan remains the biggest victim of terrorism, emphasising the urgency of addressing this issue in future dialogue.
Highlighting the importance of resolving the Kashmir dispute, Khawaja Asif referred to it as a golden opportunity for both nations to address long-standing tensions.
“This is a golden opportunity for both Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute,” the minister said.
Earlier, 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.
Pakistan, India agree to ceasefire after Trump’s mediation
Nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India agreed on a ceasefire on Saturday following the US pressure and four days of intense fighting.
Trump on Sunday praised the leadership of Pakistan and India for agreeing to a ceasefire, pledging to support efforts toward a resolution of the Kashmir dispute and to increase trade substantially with both nations.
In a message posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump called the agreement “historic and heroic” and said both countries had shown “strength, wisdom, and fortitude” by halting what he described as escalating aggression.
I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!,” Trump said.
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.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Sunday that the Pakistan armed forces had delivered on the promises made to the nation.
The DG ISPR was referring to the Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, an intense military operation of Pakistan following Indian strikes, which hit key targets in the Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and mainland India.
He made these remarks while briefing the media on the successful military operation against the Indian aggression.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan targeted 26 Indian military sites in response to New Delhi’s strikes that claimed innocent civilian lives. Moreover, he said, the S-400 system was neutralised at two locations. He said Pakistan downed 84 Indian drones.
“Whenever our sovereignty is breached, the response will be retributive and decisive”, he thundered.
