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Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
How India, Pak, hammered out surprise pause
For four days, spiralling hostilities between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan had the world on edge. But the end came swiftly, via a phone call at 3.35pm on Saturday. The cessation of hostilities was achieved after a call from Pakistan director general of military operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. The former's offer to stop the firing and the air attacks was met with the response that India too would do the same, people directly familiar with the matter said. To be sure, Pakistan 'breached' agreement later in the evening, as acknowledged by India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri. India's strategic strikes on Pakistani military installations and the US's nudge to Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir to deescalate – Washington's backing for a International Monetary Fund bailout package for Islamabad was likely conditional to this – were key factors behind the understanding on stopping military actions, people familiar with the matter said. The people added that while representatives from the US and various other countries had spoken to top Indian officials – including foreign minister S Jaishankar and national security adviser Ajit Doval -- there were no interaction between either the foreign ministers of the two countries or the NSAs. This was only fitting, the people cited above said, pointing out that the hostilities started with the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, which India responded to on May 7, with targeted strikes at nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir; since then, New Delhi has only been responding, proportionately and responsibly, to Islamabad's escalation, the people added. The people said that there were no other aspects to the cessation of hostilities, and that there was no talk of a political dialogue or a meeting. Measures announced by India, including the country putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, will remain, they added. The people said that the sole objective of Operation Sindoor was to strike at terror, and to send Pakistan a message that its sponsorship of terror would not go unpunished, adding that any future terror attack would be seen as an act of war. Since India's military began responding to Pakistan's strikes over the past three days, numerous strikes targeted the neighbouring country's airbases, radar sites, air defence systems and command centres. India's military action codenamed Operation Sindoor was originally launched on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, and officials have said military targets were struck only after the Pakistani side launched drones and missiles at Indian military sites. In several instances, there was signalling by the Indian side about the ability to reach key Pakistani military installations in locations such as Rawalpindi, the people added on condition of anonymity. Members of the US administration, particularly secretary of state Marco Rubio, were in touch with Pakistan's top leadership as tensions soared in recent days. Rubio dialled the Pakistan Army chief on Saturday to push for de-escalation and offer assistance for starting constructive talks to avoid future conflicts, according to an official readout. 'Over the past 48 hours, VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik,' Rubio posted on X. CNN reported that Vance – who was visiting India when the terrorists struck Pahalgam – spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after White House believed there was a high probability for dramatic escalation in the conflict. The Trump administration was not involved in helping draft the agreement, CNN reported. In the hours leading up to the announcement of the understanding, there were signs that the two sides were working towards de-escalation and reduction of tensions. Addressing a media briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force indicated that India's armed forces would de-escalate if Pakistan reciprocated such moves. Singh noted that Pakistan's military was moving troops to forward areas, an apparent 'offensive intent to further escalate the situation'. But she added, 'Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military.' On the Pakistani side, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned leaders of the main political parties and informed them that a 'befitting reply' was given to India and the country had 'avenged the blood of innocents'. This was taken by experts to be an indication of efforts aimed at de-escalation. The Pakistani military informed journalists early on Saturday morning that the prime minister had called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body responsible for command and control of the nuclear arsenal. However, a short while later, defence minister Khawaja Asif told ARY TV news channel that 'no meeting has happened of the National Command Authority, nor is any such meeting scheduled'. Separately, foreign minister Ishaq Dar told the local media that if India stopped its military actions, then Pakistan 'will consider to stop here'. These comments by the Pakistani ministers too were seen as indications of the moves toward de-escalation. 'We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,' Sharif wrote on X.
Mint
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
How India, Pakistan reached a ceasefire with direct DGMO talks
The cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was achieved after a call from the Pakistan DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai early in the afternoon of Saturday. The former's offer to stop the firing and the air attacks was met with the response that India too would do the same, people directly familiar with the matter said. They added that while representatives from the US and various other countries had indeed spoken to top Indian officials including foreign minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, there was no interaction between the foreign ministers of the two countries, nor between the NSAs. This was only fitting, the people said, pointing out that it all started with the terror attack at Pahalgam, which India responded to on the morning of May 7, with targeted strikes at nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, and that since then, India has only been responding, and proportionately and responsibly, to Pakistan's escalation. HT learns that the US pushed Pakistan to cease hostilities and that its support for the IMF bailout package for Islamabad may have been conditional to this. The people said that there were no other aspects to the cessation of hostilities, and that there was no talk of a political dialogue or a meeting. Measures announced by India, including the country walking out of the Indus Water Treaty would remain, they added. The people said that the sole objective of Operation Sindoor was to strike at terror, and to send Pakistan a message that its sponsorship of terror would not go unpunished, adding that any future terror attack would be seen as an act of war. This article first appeared in Hindustan Times.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
How India, Pakistan reached a ceasefire with direct DGMO talks
The cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was achieved after a call from the Pakistan DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai early in the afternoon of Saturday. The former's offer to stop the firing and the air attacks was met with the response that India too would do the same, people directly familiar with the matter said. They added that while representatives from the US and various other countries had indeed spoken to top Indian officials including foreign minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, there was no interaction between the foreign ministers of the two countries, nor between the NSAs. This was only fitting, the people said, pointing out that it all started with the terror attack at Pahalgam, which India responded to on the morning of May 7, with targeted strikes at nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, and that since then, India has only been responding, and proportionately and responsibly, to Pakistan's escalation. The people said that there were no other aspects to the cessation of hostilities, and that there was no talk of a political dialogue or a meeting. Measures announced by India, including the country walking out of the Indus Water Treaty would remain, they added. The people said that the sole objective of Operation Sindoor was to strike at terror, and to send Pakistan a message that its sponsorship of terror would not go unpunished, adding that any future terror attack would be seen as an act of war.
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PAF prowess comes under global focus
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army's spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has categorically denied any direct contact between the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of Pakistan and India, contrary to earlier statements made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Speaking at a media briefing, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Air Operations Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed and Commodore Rab Nawaz of the Pakistan Navy, the DG ISPR clarified that while diplomatic backchannels exist, no direct engagement has taken place between the NSAs of the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Lt Gen Chaudhry reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering stance on defending its sovereignty, warning that any act of aggression from India will be met with a strong and calculated response. 'Pakistan will retaliate, and the choice of time, place, and method will be ours,' he said firmly. COAS pays rich tributes to Air Chief Detailing the events of the night of May 7 and 8, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb disclosed that the Pakistan Air Force had anticipated confrontation and was fully alert. According to the military spokesperson, 33 Pakistani civilians, including seven women and five children, were killed during Indian strikes, while 62 others sustained injuries. 'The blood of every martyr and every wounded individual will be accounted for. The nation and the state are aware of their sacrifice,' the DG ISPR asserted. He criticised the notion of India striking at will and challenged any perception of Pakistan as a passive target. 'Do you expect a new norm where India attacks Pakistan at will? Do not misunderstand Pakistan,' he warned, adding that any future Pakistani response would echo loud and clear across the region. Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasised that war brings unpredictability and escalation, and Pakistan is prepared for all outcomes. 'As long as our sovereignty and dignity demand it, we are ready. They may have started this — we will decide how it ends,' he added. He revealed that Pakistan has so far downed 77 Israel-made Indian drones, most of which were neutralised through soft power, while hard power was used in some cases. The debris of these drones is being collected as 'war trophies,' he added. In reference to India's attempted show of power, the DG ISPR said that on the night of May 7-8, India also launched four long-range missiles, which were successfully intercepted and neutralised by Pakistan's defence systems. He dismissed Indian allegations of Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam incident, stating that solid evidence proves otherwise. 'We will only present these facts before an independent international investigative commission,' he said. Gen Chaudhry also confirmed that no Pakistani military personnel were killed and no aircraft were damaged during the confrontation. However, he claimed significant damage was inflicted on Indian military installations in retaliatory strikes. While he refrained from confirming Indian military casualties, he said there are some unverified reports under assessment. Highlighting the danger posed by India's recent actions, he said that at the time of the attack, 57 international and domestic passenger aircraft — including from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China, South Korea, and Gulf countries — were present in Pakistani airspace, endangering hundreds of innocent lives. He alleged that India is hosting terrorist training camps that orchestrate attacks in Pakistan and are also linked to assassinations worldwide. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
News18
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Army Denies Direct Communication With India As Tensions Remain High
Last Updated: India had rejected claims made by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister that the National Security Advisers (NSAs) had communicated with each other after Operation Sindoor. The Pakistan Army on Friday denied having any direct communication with India, despite escalating tensions between the two nations. This statement came after earlier reports suggesting that the National Security Advisors of both countries had been in contact after India launched Operation Sindoor. 'I can confirm that no direct communication has taken place between the national security advisers of Pakistan and India," said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry at a press conference in Lahore. Tensions between the two countries have reached a boiling point as Pakistan continues to launch brazen and unprovoked attacks on India. On Friday, Pakistan launched a fresh drone attack targeting 26 locations — from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. India thwarted these attempts by the Pakistan military to target military installations. The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems, according to the Ministry of Defence. Did Indian, Pakistani NSAs Speak To Each Other? Earlier, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Turkish broadcaster TRT World that the NSAs of India and Pakistan had spoken to each other on call. However, he did not provide details about the alleged discussions between India's Ajit Doval and Pakistan's Asim Malik. TRT claimed that these discussions took place after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. However, India has dismissed these claims in its response. At a media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that he had no information regarding any contact between the two countries' NSAs. Tensions in the subcontinent spiralled following the precision strikes, which took place two weeks after three terrorists – two of them from Pakistan and linked to an LeT affiliate – killed 25 tourists and a local pony handler in a brazen attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. First Published: May 10, 2025, 01:00 IST
