New Delhi and Islamabad have agreed to withdraw troops deployed during the recent conflict to peacetime positions by the end of May as part of talks to normalise relations, Pakistani media reported, citing a senior source in the security services.
The official also told the media that the withdrawal of additional troops and weapons was planned to take place within ten days, but minor issues had caused a delay. The Indian army announced last week that both countries were ready to reduce their contingents along the border.
Meanwhile, Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said that relations between New Delhi and Islamabad are unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future. The senior Indian diplomat also denied reports that US President Donald Trump was mediating in the ceasefire talks between India and Pakistan and rejected the possibility of foreign leaders commenting on the Indo-Pakistani conflict in this regard.
As the Indian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasised, at no point during the conflict, which was fought exclusively with conventional weapons, did Pakistan issue any “nuclear signals.”
The escalation of the conflict between India and Pakistan began on April 22, when an attack on civilians was carried out in the Pahalgam area of Indian-controlled Kashmir. India blamed Pakistani intelligence for the attack.
On the night of May 10, Pakistan launched a military operation against India called “Bunyam-um-Marsus” (“Solid Wall”), saying it was in response to New Delhi’s strikes. The operation lasted two days, after which the sides agreed to a ceasefire.
