Calm returns to the border after days of crossfire as military officials reconnect; India warns against further violations while equity markets rally in both countries.
New Delhi/Islamabad, May 12:
For the first time since the latest ceasefire agreement, the military operations chiefs of India and Pakistan spoke over a hotline on Monday, signaling a tentative return to communication following several days of intense hostilities along the border.
The Indian Army confirmed that Sunday night was the first peaceful night in nearly a week, with no reports of explosions or cross-border shelling. However, authorities noted that several border-area schools remain closed as a precaution.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on Saturday, followed four days of heavy cross-border firing and was announced after diplomatic intervention led by US President Donald Trump. It aimed to de-escalate tensions after India conducted retaliatory air strikes on Pakistani territory in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead.
On Sunday, India had sent a hotline message to Pakistan protesting an alleged violation of the ceasefire agreement. A senior Indian army officer stated that India reserved the right to respond to any further provocation.
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A spokesperson for the Pakistan military denied that any violations had occurred, and Islamabad did not immediately comment on the Monday talks when approached by Reuters.
Market Response and Diplomatic Undercurrents
The truce has had a positive impact on financial markets in both nations. Pakistan’s benchmark share index jumped nearly 9%, prompting a brief trading halt on Monday after recovering sharp losses from the previous week. In India, the Nifty index rebounded by 2.5% after shedding 1.5% in prior sessions amid rising geopolitical tension.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) further bolstered Pakistan’s financial outlook late Friday by approving a $1.4 billion climate resilience loan and clearing the first review of its $7 billion bailout program.
While Islamabad thanked Washington for brokering the ceasefire and welcomed Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir, New Delhi maintained silence on US involvement. India has long held that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and that bilateral issues with Pakistan should be resolved directly without third-party mediation.
Domestic Political Reactions
Back home, the Congress Party, which had supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the April 22 terror attack, is now demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the emerging security and diplomatic dynamics with Pakistan.
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India Pakistan ceasefire, military hotline, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam attack, cross-border tensions, DGMO talks, Indian Army, Pakistan Army, US mediation, Donald Trump, Kashmir dispute, stock market, IMF loan Pakistan