NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Tuesday conducted their weekly talks through the hotline between the offices of the rival DGMOs, during which "border management issues" were discussed in line with the ongoing truce along the border.
"They were routine talks that take place between middle-rung officers through the DGMO hotline every Tuesday," an officer said.
The two armies are discussing "measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas" after Indian DGMO Lt-General Rajiv Ghai and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Kashif Abdullah reached the understanding on May 10 to cease cross-border hostilities which had started on May 7. The two sides are also continuing with their confidence building measures to progressively reduce the "high alertness levels" between the rival militaries to ensure that neither side "fires or initiates any aggressive and inimical action", as reported by TOI earlier.
India has repeatedly stressed that the ongoing understanding, which came into effect at 5 pm on May 10 after India's deep precision strikes on nine Pakistani airbases as well as a few radar sites earlier that day, is conditional and depends on Islamabad's behaviour. "If Pakistan's behaviour improves, it is fine. But if there is any disturbance, harshest punishment will be given," defence minister Rajnath Singh had said.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan had moved several reserve army formations, tanks and Chinese-made SH-15 self-propelled 155mm howitzers closer to the Line of Control as well as the international border.
India had further carried out some forward deployments, which included the multi-layered air defence network that eventually thwarted the waves of drones and some missiles unleashed by Pakistan against Indian civilian and military targets.