The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India engaged in third round of hotline conversation on Wednesday afternoon.
According to media reports, the senior military officials discussed the situation on the ground and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the current status quo, with the ceasefire remaining intact “for the time being,” consistent with their previous exchange on Monday.
So far, neither government has released an official statement detailing the content or conclusions of the conversation.
The News reported that major international powers continue to actively engage with both Islamabad and New Delhi. International bodies are urging both countries to maintain the ceasefire and go for mutual interest based agreement.
To strengthen the fragile ceasefire, both sides have agreed on certain preliminary measures. Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson and Additional Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, is expected to address the media on Friday to provide further updates on recent developments.
In a related development, diplomats declared persona non grata by both countries have returned home as directed, within a 24-hour window. This has reduced the staff count at both high commissions to 29 officials each.
According to media reports, replacements are expected as soon as the relevant host countries issue the required visas, which is expected to happen by August, even though these roles have not been formally dissolved.
The latest exchange comes after New Delhi launched airstrikes on what it claimed were terrorist bases inside Pakistan, sparking four days of increased military conflict between India and Pakistan that involved the employment of fighter planes, missiles, and drones.
Following a 26-person attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, India launched its military reaction.
Pakistan accused India of attacking civilian targets during its retaliatory strikes and denied any role in the attack in Kashmir.
