Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 17, 2025, New Delhi : A ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been extended until May 18 following high-level discussions, as confirmed by sources familiar with the developments. This agreement comes amid heightened tensions following a series of military escalations along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border areas in recent days.
According to reliable sources, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations are scheduled to meet soon to further discuss the ongoing ceasefire agreement and the phased withdrawal of troops. This meeting is expected to review ground-level developments along the border and evaluate the effectiveness of existing confidence-building measures.
The ceasefire, initially agreed upon on May 10, followed significant hostilities including drone and missile exchanges. India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on the night of May 7-8 marked a decisive military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The operation targeted and destroyed nine terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly leading to a severe escalation in retaliatory actions from Pakistan.
In response, Pakistan launched cross-border drone and rocket attacks on Indian civilian zones and military positions. India, in turn, intercepted several aerial threats and struck back at key Pakistani air bases and military installations. As tensions mounted, Pakistan approached India with a proposal for a ceasefire, reportedly following diplomatic intervention from the United States.
Despite the ceasefire declaration on May 10, Pakistan violated the agreement within hours. Continued border skirmishes prompted renewed talks between the two countries to de-escalate the situation and reduce alert levels along the LoC.
The Indian Army, in an official statement, noted that “further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on 10th May 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures so as to reduce the alertness level. As the situation develops further, we shall intimate you.”
Sources indicate that both sides have agreed to a framework to continue talks aimed at normalizing border conditions and averting further conflict.
Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between the two nations remain strained. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement that has governed water sharing between the countries for decades. Pakistan has urged New Delhi to reconsider the move, warning of severe domestic consequences, particularly for regions dependent on the Indus for agriculture and drinking water.
However, India has maintained that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan takes “credible and irreversible” action to halt cross-border terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation regarding Operation Sindoor, reaffirmed India’s firm stance, stating, “Terror and talk cannot take place together. Terror and trade cannot take place together. And, water and blood also cannot flow together.”
He further cautioned Pakistan that India’s current pause in military action should not be mistaken for a change in posture, emphasizing that future decisions would be contingent on Pakistan’s conduct.
In a recent statement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an offer for peace talks with India, signaling Islamabad’s willingness to engage in dialogue. However, with both sides maintaining strong and opposing positions, the path forward remains uncertain.
As of now, the ceasefire remains in effect, with both militaries observing a fragile truce. The upcoming DGMO meeting is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the next steps in the ongoing standoff.