Indian Army to Scale Back Alertness as Ceasefire with Pakistan Holds Till May 18

Focus Shifts to Confidence-Building Measures After Operation Sindoor​

New Delhi, May 15 – The Indian Army on Thursday announced plans to pursue confidence-building measures aimed at reducing alertness levels, following the May 10 understanding between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan to halt hostilities.

This announcement came hours after Islamabad confirmed that the ceasefire agreement between the two sides has been extended until May 18, following a series of coordinated conversations between the DGMOs over the hotline.

Understanding of Ceasefire Reached After Fierce Exchange​

The initial agreement on cessation of hostilities was reached on May 10, after four intense days of military exchanges between the two countries. The Indian Army, in a statement, noted:
“Further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on 10th of May 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures to reduce the alertness level.”

While Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate that the DGMOs had multiple conversations—extending the ceasefire from May 12 to May 14, and then again to May 18—there was no official confirmation from the Indian side on the claimed May 14 discussion.

Hotline Conversations Focused on Peace and Troop Reduction​

According to the Indian military’s readout, the May 12 hotline exchange reaffirmed both sides' commitment to:

• Refrain from firing a single shot
• Avoid any aggressive or inimical action
• Consider immediate troop reduction from the borders and forward positions

This understanding followed heightened tensions after India launched Operation Sindoor—a precision strike on terror infrastructure on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

India’s Swift and Strong Response​

In retaliation for India's strike, Pakistan attempted attacks on May 8, 9, and 10, targeting Indian military bases. These were met with strong countermeasures, resulting in significant damage to Pakistan’s:

• Air bases
• Air defence systems
• Command and control centers
• Radar sites

National Commitment to Combat Terrorism: Rajnath Singh​

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday in parallel development on Thursday to assess the security landscape. Addressing Army personnel at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Singh stated:

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has redefined India's policy against terrorism which now says that any attack on Indian soil will be considered as an act of war."

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Calling Operation Sindoor the largest counter-terror operation in India’s history, Singh praised the forces for their bravery and precision. He added:

"Terrorists killed Indians based on their religion; we killed them for their deeds. Our forces gave the right direction to their anger and took revenge for Pahalgam with great courage and discretion."

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Path Ahead​

While tensions appear to have de-escalated, both militaries are expected to continue dialogue and uphold their commitments to prevent further conflict. The Indian Army has indicated that further updates will be shared as the situation evolves.