New Delhi: The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on Monday deliberated on ways to avoid “inimical” military actions and agreed on considering immediate steps to reduce troops of the two militaries from the borders and forward areas.
In the conversation over the hotline, the two officers focused on continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a “single shot” or initiate any “aggressive and inimical” action against each other, according to an Indian readout.
The nearly 45-minute talks took place two days after the two DGMOs reached an understanding on halting all military actions.
The arrangement reached on May 10 came after four days of intense hostilities that saw the two sides targeting each other’s military installations with drones, missiles and long-range weapons that raised fears of a wider military conflict.
“Talks between DGMOs were held at 5:00 PM. Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed,” the Indian Army said.
“It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas,” it said in a statement.
The talks over the hotline were previously scheduled at 12 noon. However, it started at around 5 pm.
Though there were cases of violation of the understanding by the Pakistani military on May 10 night, there were no such incidents on Sunday night.
“The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu & Kashmir and other areas along the international border,” the Army said in a brief statement earlier.
“No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days,” it said.
Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.
The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damage to a number of key Pakistani military installations, including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday evening announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect.
Hours ahead of the DGMO talks, the Indian Air Force said all its military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions if the need arises.
Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti said the Indian military’s fight was with terrorists and their support infrastructure, but it was a “pity” that the Pakistani military chose to bat for the terrorists.
“We have also iterated that our fight was with terrorists and their support infrastructure,” he said. “However, it is a pity that the Pakistan military chose to intervene and bat for the terrorists, which compelled us to respond in kind,” he added.
Air Marshal Bharti, Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral A N Pramod addressed the media briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor.’
The Air Marshal said India’s robust air defence system effectively foiled Pakistan’s attempts to attack Indian military installations.
On Pakistan military’s claim of success in hitting Indian installations, he said, “I would like to emphatically state that, in spite of some minor damage incurred, all our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions, should the need so arise.”
Last night remained peaceful in J&K: Army
Jammu and Kashmir was peaceful last night with no hostilities between the Indian and Pakistani militaries along the Line of Control and the International Border.
The Indian Army said this on Monday morning.
“The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International border,” it said in a brief statement.
“No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days,” it said.
India launched Operation Sindoor on early May 7 to destroy seven terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.
All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
India and Pakistan on Saturday announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from 5 pm that day.
There were some violations by the Pakistani military on Saturday night.
32 airports to resume operations: AAI
Airlines issue travel advisories
Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Monday announced that civilian flight operations will resume at 32 airports that were temporarily shut last week in view of the military standoff between India and Pakistan.
Airlines, including Air India, AirIndia Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet, issued travel advisories/ updates to their customers following the opening of the civil flight operations from these 32 airports.
In a statement on Monday, state-owned AAI said the 32 airports that were closed for civilian aircraft operations till 0529 hours of May 15 are now available for operations with immediate effect. “It is recommended for travellers to check flight status directly with Airlines and monitor airlines’ websites for regular updates,” the statement said.
Civilian light operations from the 32 airports across northern and western India, including Srinagar and Amritsar, were suspended from May 9 to May 15. The AAI along with other aviation authorities had issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for all civilian flight operations.
Securit measures were enhanced, and at least 32 airports in northern and western parts of the country were temporarily shut in view of the conflict between India and Pakistan. On Saturday, India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.
Air India in a statement on Monday said, “Air India will progressively resume flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot starting Tuesday, May 13.” It also said that bookings for these sectors are now open.
Air India Express, in a statement, said it “will gradually reinstate flight operations from previously closed airports, following the lifting of NOTAMS by the authorities.”
Starting Tuesday, services will resume on routes including Hindon-Bengaluru, Jammu-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar, and Srinagar-Delhi, it added.
Operations on Hindon-Mumbai are planned to resume the day after, AirIndia Express said, adding the reinstatement of other flights, including international services from Amritsar, is expected to follow from May 15..
“Following the government directives, the recently closed airports are now available for airlines operations,” IndiGo said in a statement.
The Gurugram-based airline also said it has reopened its flight bookings and resumed operations starting May 12, progressively on select routes, beginning with Delhi – Chandigarh, Delhi – Jammu – Delhi and Delhi – Amritsar – Delhi.
Over the course of the next few days, more flights will resume gradually across the network, IndiGo said.
Meanwhile, SpiceJet in a travel update said, “flight restrictions to/from Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla & Amritsar have been lifted.” “Flights will resume soon,” the airline added.
Suspected drones observed along IB in Jammu’s Samba, being engaged: Army
Security forces are engaging suspected drones observed along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu region on Monday, an Army said.
This fresh incident of drone activity along the borderline comes barely hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first address to the nation following Operation Sindoor and the meeting of the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.
The Army, however, said there is no need to be alarmed.
“A small number of suspected drones have been observed near Samba in J&K. They are being engaged,” it said.
In the backdrop of the situation, several areas witnessed blackouts in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Jammu.
Lights were switched off at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along its track as a precautionary measure, sources said.
