Pakistan and India are close to pulling back troops to pre-conflict positions along their shared border following their worst military confrontation in decades, said Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad. The de-escalation follows four intense days of hostilities in early May, triggered by an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for the incident, a claim Islamabad strongly rejected.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Shamshad confirmed that both countries are returning to the situation before April 22. He warned, however, that the risk of escalation remains high and could involve the entirety of both countries in the future, not just the disputed Kashmir region.
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The general also noted that, although nuclear weapons were not brought into play during the recent conflict, strategic miscalculations cannot be ruled out. He said, “The time window for international intervention is shrinking. Next time, damage may already be done before diplomacy can step in.”
General Shamshad further stated that beyond a crisis hotline between military officials and some tactical-level contact, there is no ongoing communication or backchannel diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi. He ruled out any meetings with his Indian counterpart during the Singapore forum.
