Saturday, March 29, 2025
Subheading:
India Pakistan ceasefire extension to May 18 sets stage for critical DGMO-level dialogue amid terror fallout and Indus treaty freeze
India and Pakistan have agreed to extend their ceasefire agreement until May 18, with military officials from both sides—Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs)—expected to hold further talks to assess the ground situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border.
Sources confirm that this extension comes a day after both nations agreed to gradually lower the high alert levels imposed across their respective border regions. The Indian Army released a statement highlighting the continued implementation of confidence-building measures following their May 10 ceasefire understanding.
The truce followed days of intense military escalation, including cross-border drone strikes and missile launches. The trigger was a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor between May 7–8, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
India further escalated its response with diplomatic pressure, notably suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, a move Islamabad has fiercely contested. Pakistan’s water ministry sent an urgent request to India to reconsider, warning of severe internal consequences. However, India remains firm, linking the treaty’s status to Pakistan’s action against cross-border terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation following Operation Sindoor, stating unequivocally:
“Water and blood cannot flow together. Terrorism and dialogue cannot coexist. Terror and trade cannot run in parallel.”
He reiterated that India has paused military action but will closely monitor Pakistan’s conduct before considering its next steps.
Despite initial violations of the May 10 agreement by Pakistan within hours of its enforcement, both sides have resumed communication lines. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly expressed willingness to resume peace talks with India, stating that Pakistan is “ready for dialogue in the interest of peace.”
The DGMOs from New Delhi and Islamabad are expected to reconvene soon, potentially restoring some strategic stability to a region that has been on edge for weeks.
