Pakistan and India extend ceasefire
Pakistan and India have agreed to extend their ceasefire until May 18, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday. In a statement to the Pakistani parliament, Dar said a military-to-military conversation took place between the two countries, where they decided to extend the ceasefire, according to Dawn News.
Dar said Pakistan did not ask for a ceasefire with India but added that Islamabad sought a 'composite dialogue' with New Delhi to put all contentious matters to rest.
While there has been no official statement from the Indian side about the extension of the ceasefire, Indian media outlet News18 cited sources as confirming it would continue until May 18. The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries will hold talks soon, the sources told the media outlet.
'Further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on May 10, 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures so as to reduce the alertness level,' the Indian Army said in a statement on Thursday.
The ceasefire was reached on May 10 after four days of intense cross-border strikes that took place in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan.
'The current ceasefire means that India has kept Pakistan on probation on the basis of its behavior,' Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday. 'If the behavior improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, harshest punishment will be given,' he added.
A day earlier, Singh said Pakistan's nuclear weapons should be taken under the watch of the IAEA. 'Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation,?' he asked.
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