India, Pak DGMOs talks focus on avoiding 'inimical' action, reducing troops at borders

The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on Monday (May 12) deliberated on ways to avoid "inimical" military actions and agreed on considering immediate steps to reduce troops of the two militaries from the borders and forward areas.

In the conversation over the hotline, the two officers focused on continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a "single shot" or initiate any "aggressive and inimical" action against each other, according to an Indian readout.

Also Read: Targeting of civilians marks alarming shift in terror tactics: DGMO

India-Pakistan truce

The nearly 45-minute-long discussions were held two days after India and Pakistan’s DGMOs reached an understanding on halting all military actions.

The talks were a follow-up to the ceasefire arrangement reached on May 10, following four days of heightened hostilities betwen the two countries.

The consensus to cease all aggressive actions came after both sides engaged in intense cross-border exchanges and targeted each other's military installations, employing drones, missiles, and long-range artillery.

These confrontations had sparked serious concerns over the possibility of an expanded conflict.

Hotline discussion

"Talks between the two DGMOs were held at 5:00 PM. Both reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that neither side fires any shots or initiates hostile acts against the other," the Indian Army said.

Additionally, both sides agreed on the need for immediate steps to reduce troop deployments along the border and in forward positions.

The talks over the hotline were previously scheduled at 12 noon. However, it started at around 5 pm.

Also Read: Indian army denies targeting Pakistan's nuclear facility at Kirana Hills

Post-ceasefire conditions

Though there were cases of violation of the ceasefire understanding by the Pakistani military on May 10 night, there were no such incidents on Sunday night.

"The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu & Kashmir and other areas along the international border," the Indian Army said in a brief statement.

"No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days," the Army statement said.

Operation Sindoor recap

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

In response, Pakistan attempted to target Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian Armed Forces by inflicting heavy damage to a number of key Pakistani military installations, including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on (May 10) Saturday evening that both nations had agreed to an immediate cessation of military actions on land, air and sea.

Also Read: Who is Hafiz Abdul Rauf, the man who led funeral of terrorists killed in Op Sindoor?

India's military might

Ahead of the DGMO talks, the Indian Air Force said all its military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions if the need arises.

Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti said the Indian military's fight was with terrorists and their infrastructure, but it was a "pity" that the Pakistani military chose to bat for the terrorists.

The Air Marshal said India's robust air defence system effectively foiled Pakistan's attempts to attack Indian military installations.

On Pakistan military's claim of success in hitting Indian installations, he said, "I would like to emphatically state that, in spite of some minor damage incurred, all our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions, should the need so arise."

(With agency inputs)