By | Dr AR LONE
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday announced that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both India and Pakistan recently held discussions via a hotline to address the ongoing ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC). According to Dar, the current ceasefire will remain effective until May 18, after which another round of talks is scheduled to take place between the two DGMOs on the same day.
However, in stark contrast, a report from Geo News Pakistan, citing unnamed military sources, claimed that the ceasefire agreement is actually set to expire today. The report hinted at mounting pressure from certain military factions within Pakistan to reconsider the terms of the ceasefire, suggesting that Islamabad is “keeping its options open” amid rising tensions. This raised concerns and prompted inquiries about the possibility of DGMO-level talks being held to extend the ceasefire.
In response to the circulating confusion, the Indian Army issued an official statement, firmly clarifying the situation:
“No DGMO talks are scheduled today.
As far as the continuation of the break in hostilities, as decided in the DGMOs interaction of 12 May, is concerned, there is no expiry date to it.”
The Indian Army’s statement directly contradicted the claims made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and the Geo News report, asserting that the ceasefire remains intact with no expiration date and dismissing the possibility of any DGMO-level engagement today.
Further complicating the matter, Al Jazeera, citing diplomatic sources in Islamabad, reported that backchannel communications are underway to “redefine the terms of engagement along the LoC,” hinting at a possible revision of the ceasefire terms ahead of the May 18 talks. This report sparked speculation over whether the upcoming dialogue might bring unexpected changes to the agreement.
The mixed messages have led to uncertainty among residents along the border, who expressed concerns over the possibility of renewed hostility. Many community leaders have urged both nations to provide clear and transparent information to avoid panic.
As scheduled, the DGMOs from both sides are expected to hold another round of dialogue on May 18 to review and potentially reinforce the agreement. Whether the terms remain unchanged or undergo revisions remains to be seen.
