Military leaders from India and Pakistan are scheduled to hold discussions on Monday, May 12, 2025, to determine the next steps following a recently established ceasefire along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region. The ceasefire, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump after four days of intense conflict, has largely held, bringing the first peaceful night in several days, despite initial violations.
India has communicated concerns about these violations to Pakistan and emphasized its readiness to respond to future incidents. While India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorist activity that led to the deaths of 26 tourists, Islamabad denies the allegations and calls for an impartial investigation. India also conducted strikes on what it claims were terrorist targets in Pakistan-controlled territories, but Pakistan insists they were civilian sites.
India remains firm on resolving disputes bilaterally and has not acknowledged U.S. involvement or agreed to talks at a neutral location, in contrast to Pakistan, which appreciates Washington’s mediation and supports neutral dialogue. The situation highlights the volatile nature of India-Pakistan relations, particularly over Kashmir, a region both nations claim in full but control in parts.
The recent conflict, described as the most severe in nearly 30 years, began when India struck nine locations in Pakistan deemed to be “terrorist infrastructure” in response to an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people. A fragile ceasefire remains in place as of Sunday.
The ceasefire has had positive effects beyond the immediate region. Indian stock markets experienced a strong rally on Monday following the announcement of the ceasefire. The Nifty 50 index rose by 1.72% to 24,420.10, and the BSE Sensex climbed 1.7% to 80,803.80. The broader market sentiment was positive, with 48 out of the 50 Nifty stocks advancing and 12 of the 13 major sectors reporting gains. Additionally, small-cap and mid-cap indices each gained approximately 3%.
The upcoming discussions between military officials are seen as a critical step toward maintaining the ceasefire and preventing further escalation in the region.
Source: Reuters
