Military officials from Pakistan and India engage in tense talks

Military officials from Pakistan and India engage in tense talks

 

 Asher Butt

Military officials from Pakistan and India recently engaged in a 43-minute, 36-second discussion via a regularly scheduled hotline, a communication channel active year-round.

 

During the exchange, the Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) urged Pakistan to reduce its troop presence along the Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana borders, and to revert to positions held on April 22nd. India also proposed handing over border security duties to the Border Security Force (BSF), with a reciprocal deployment of Pakistani Rangers on the Pakistani side. Furthermore, India requested the removal of Special Service Group (SSG) snipers from the Sialkot sector, and the withdrawal of forces from the Narowal sector, citing "aggressive" behavior. The return of Pakistani forces to their previous posts along the Line of Control (LOC) was also demanded, with India calling for the facilitation of peace. Of note, the Kali Mata temple, currently under Pakistani control, was a key point of contention.

 

In response, the Pakistani DGMO suggested that Indian officials travel to the Wagah border to present their demands in writing. The Pakistani side emphasized its historical commitment to peace, while accusing India of exploiting this as a weakness and engaging in covert hostilities. Pakistan insisted that all future discussions be formally documented and conducted in the presence of international media. Until these conditions are met, Pakistan stated it would not cede any ground. Regarding the SSG snipers, Pakistan's DGMO proposed a direct confrontation between both sides' special forces to resolve the matter. Pakistan also questioned India's commitment to peace, pointing to the deployment of missiles in Amritsar following a ceasefire announcement, and expressed outrage over the killing of Pakistani children by Indian forces.

 

Following these revelations, the Indian DGMO requested two days to respond. The report indicates that DGMO-level talks typically occur every Tuesday, a practice established following a 1999 agreement. The unscheduled Sunday meeting was attributed to the urgent nature of the situation. It was revealed in a Vlog Razinama.