Pakistan, India agree to pull back troops

ISLAMABAD: (DEFENSE AFFAIRS)

Far from verbal exchanges between Islamabad and New Delhi, Pakistan and Indian militaries were working quietly to ease tensions as they agreed on Tuesday to pull back troops from the forward positions.

The decision was taken in a latest contact between the director general military operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. There was no official word from either side about the latest development.

A senior security source confirmed to The Express Tribune that both sides agreed to consolidate the ceasefire.

As part of the understanding, the two sides agreed to withdraw troop reinforcements deployed during their recent conflict back to their peacetime positions by the end of May, a senior Pakistani security official told AFP on Tuesday.

The official said both countries agreed to a phased withdrawal of additional troops and the weaponry deployed, mostly along the heavily-militarized Line of Control (LoC).

It comes after the Indian army last week said both sides agreed to take “immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas”.

All of these steps were initially planned to be completed within 10 days, but minor issues caused delays,” the Pakistani official added.

As part of the ceasefire deal, the US said Pakistan and India would start talks on a broader range of issues at a neutral venue. Pakistan welcomed the move, but India did not comment on it directly and stressed if there were any talks that would focus only on terrorism and part of Kashmir that is under Pakistan’s control.