 "Representational Image: Reuters")
As India and Pakistan on Thursday agreed to continue confidence-building measures (CBMs) to gradually reduce military tensions along the Line of Control and the international border on the western front, Pakistan announced that the ceasefire had been extended until Sunday.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, said the Pakistan Army had agreed to extend the ceasefire with India following a phone call between the two DGMOs. However, there was no official confirmation from the Indian Army regarding the extension.
After an earlier agreement on May 10 between Indian DGMO Lt General Rajiv Ghai and Pakistan’s DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah to halt cross-border firing, both sides are now working to strengthen CBMs and prevent any further aggressive actions, an official said.
The initial ceasefire was established on May 10 after prolonged hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “From the time Operation Sindoor started on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”
Trump quick to take credit
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump was quick to take credit for the ceasefire.
Last week, Trump made a surprise announcement on Truth Social, claiming that his administration had helped India and Pakistan reach a ceasefire after days of intense cross-border fighting.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOperation Sindoor and rising tensions
On May 8, Indian forces conducted precise strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, targeting senior leaders of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These strikes hit nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including major terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.
The attacks escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, Pakistan launched several missile and drone attacks, all of which failed due to India’s strong defensive measures.
India’s response to Pakistan
In retaliation to Pakistan’s provocations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed key Pakistani military assets, including airbases and radar stations, successfully bypassing advanced Chinese-supplied defence systems deployed by Pakistan.