As both nations teeter on the edge of war, a high-level military hotline call may mark the beginning of a diplomatic thaw—if trust can be rebuilt and terror support halted.
BY PC Bureau
May 10, 2025 – Islamabad/New Delhi
In a pivotal development amid rapidly escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart in a rare direct communication, proposing a framework to de-escalate the ongoing military standoff. The move follows a series of retaliatory military operations—most notably India’s Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s drone and missile strikes—that have brought the region to the brink of war. The outreach also comes amid growing international pressure from the United States, G7 nations, and other global powers to avert a full-scale conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
De-escalation Proposal from Pakistan
According to sources familiar with the exchange, the Pakistani DGMO contacted the Indian side via hotline on Saturday morning, signaling Islamabad’s willingness to pause hostilities and restore calm along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. The proposed de-escalation measures include a mutual halt on drone and missile attacks, a commitment to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure, and a resumption of backchannel diplomatic engagement to address core grievances.
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India’s DGMO acknowledged the outreach but underlined that any steps toward de-escalation would require Pakistan to cease its support for cross-border terrorism. This stance reflects India’s recent military action—Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7—aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. While the Indian Ministry of Defence has yet to officially comment, sources say New Delhi is evaluating the offer with caution and remains in a high state of military readiness.
Global Pressure for Restraint
The DGMO communication comes amid intense diplomatic activity aimed at preventing further escalation. On Friday, the G7 issued a joint statement urging both sides to show “maximum restraint” and engage in “direct dialogue.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, stressing the urgency of de-escalation and offering U.S. assistance in facilitating talks.
China, a key ally of Pakistan, expressed concern over rising tensions. On April 27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced support for Pakistan’s position while urging both countries to avoid destabilizing moves. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following recent diplomatic visits to both capitals, also appealed for dialogue to defuse the crisis.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval of a $1 billion loan to Pakistan on Saturday triggered criticism from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who called the move ill-timed given Pakistan’s recent military aggression. Nonetheless, the financial support is seen by some observers as a stabilizing force that could reduce Pakistan’s appetite for further confrontation.
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The roots of the current standoff lie in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which India attributed to Pakistan-backed militants. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK. Pakistan responded with a series of drone and missile attacks on Indian military installations. India countered by neutralizing Pakistani air defense systems in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
On Friday night, Pakistan escalated its response, launching drone strikes in 26 Indian cities. India, in turn, reported intercepting multiple Pakistani drones over Amritsar. Pakistan has since closed its airspace around Lahore and Karachi, while India has suspended civilian flights at 32 airports until May 15—further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Experts caution that while the DGMO contact is significant, mistrust remains deeply entrenched. “The DGMO hotline has historically served as a crisis management tool, but both nations need to show genuine intent,” said Dr. Sameer Patil, a New Delhi-based security analyst. “Pakistan’s outreach likely stems from international pressure and internal constraints. However, India will insist on verifiable action against terror networks.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government continues to adopt a firm posture, giving the armed forces broad autonomy to respond to Pakistani provocations. A high-level meeting at the South Block on Saturday is expected to assess the DGMO initiative and chart India’s next steps.
The military escalation is already disrupting daily life. Air raid sirens and blackouts were reported in Jammu and Chandigarh, while explosions rocked cities in Pakistan, including Islamabad and Lahore. The Pakistan T20 League has been postponed, and an IPL match in Dharamsala was cancelled, reflecting the societal and economic fallout.
Markets have reacted sharply: defense stocks in India, Pakistan, and even China have surged amid fears of a broader confrontation. The international community remains laser-focused on preventing any nuclear escalation, given both countries’ capabilities and fraught history.
The Pakistani DGMO’s overture may represent a turning point, but the road to peace remains precarious. The coming days will test whether diplomacy can override distrust, and whether both sides can resist domestic and political pressures to escalate further. For now, the world watches South Asia with apprehension—hoping that dialogue, not devastation, will prevail.
