‘Ceasefire’ extended till Sunday, claims Pak; no word from India yet

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Thursday decided to continue their confidence building measures (CBMs) to gradually reduce the high alertness levels between the rival militaries ranged against each other on the Line of Control as well as the international boundary on the western front.After Indian director-general of military operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Kashif Abdullah reached the understanding on May 10 to cease cross-border hostilities, the CBMs are being strengthened to ensure neither side “fires or initiates any aggressive and inimical action”, an officer said.Follow live updates: Islamabad says Pakistan and India agree ceasefire until SundayPakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar told the media that the Pakistan Army had agreed to extend the ceasefire with India till Sunday during a phone call between the two DGMOs on Thursday. There was, however, no clarification from the Indian Army on this.India has repeatedly stressed that Operation Sindoor has only been “paused” and the armed forces are maintaining full operational readiness to respond to any misadventure from Pakistan.Also read: Operation Sindoor: India and Pakistan agree to continue confidence-building measures, reduce alertness levelsIndia had earlier asked Pakistan to desist from any further aggressive action along the western front and reduce the number of its troops and heavy weapon systems mobilised in forward locations.Both sides had agreed to consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas during the May 10 understanding. After the Pahalgam massacre, Pakistan has moved several reserve Army formations, tanks and Chinese-made SH-15 self-propelled 155mm howitzers closer to LoC and IB. India, of course, had made “mirror deployments” of its forces, as reported by TOI earlier.