Five years of Indo-Pak ceasefire agreement; much changed in 2025

JK News Today Commentary

In its confirmation of taking bigger risks for terrorists on its soil, Pakistan retaliated to the Indian strikes at terror-infrastructure in the small hours of May 7 , 2025, by targeting the civilian population in Jammu and Kashmir . This was not an ordinary violation of the ceasefire agreement reached between Indian and Pakistani armies in February 2021 , but a complete collapse of the pact to end any activity jeopardizing peace on the Line of Control and other sectors.

Pakistan made a big statement that its primary task was to defend and advance terrorists and their networks working against India. It raised bigger question on the validity of the ceasefire agreement and the kind of relations , it wanted with its eastern neighbor –India.

At this time , when the ceasefire agreement is turning five on February 25, a look back at the scale and spirit of the agreement made public on February 25, 2021 in Indo-Pak joint statement becomes imperative , especially in the event of the unfortunate happenings of year 2025, from Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, and Delhi blast of November 10

The joint statement read “ The Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in free, frank and cordial atmosphere.

In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other ‘s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence . Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements , understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25Feb.2021.

Both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilized to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.”

A close reading of the agreement of February 25, 2021 underlines that” the two DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence .

Indeed cross-LoC and border firing was the main issue that made India and Pakistan to sign the ceasefire agreement , but it also pledged to address each other’s core issues and concerns – that is India’s concerns regarding the infiltration of terrorists and cross-border terror attacks emanating from Pakistan would be taken care of .. In fact , this agreement was a sequel to November 26, 2003 ceasefire agreement that had come about in the wake of the intense firing on both sides of the border . The Indian and Pakistan armies were in an eyeball to eyeball situation after Pakistani terrorists mounted a terror assault on the Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001.

Today, the dynamics are different. Following the ceasefire agreement of November 26, 2003, Pakistan resorted to violations on the LoC and International Border. The tings came to such a pass that ceasefire pact collapsed like house of cards. There were daily violations – Indian soldiers, civilians and their homes and businesses were targeted with intention to kill or injure them. There was a big terror attack in Mumbai in November 26, 2008, but India failed to respond in kind. However, while retaliating to Pahalgam massacre of April 22, 2025, the Modi government launched Operation Sindoor , targeting Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) ) based terror infrastructure and camps. Pakistan chose to retaliate by targeting civilian s in Rajouri , Poonch and several other places , killing civilians and causing huge damage to the properties rendering hundreds homeless.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire to retaliate to Operation Sindoor, which targeted only terrorists who had backed the terrorists who carried out massacre in Pahalgam, killing 26 civilians, 25 of them tourists. The Operation Sindoor targeted terrorists, their infrastructure and assets only, while Pakistan targeted civilians within hours after its terror bases were hit.

How should this agreement be read now? There –are a couple of points that should be looked at to understand the status and dynamics of the agreement it underwent in five years.

( A) Currently , there is a pause in Operation Sindoor launched on May 7, after Pakistan DGMO’s request for end of military action after it suffered devastating loss of military assets and its soldiers in less than 88-hour war.

( B ) Does this pause, which Pakistan and the world call as “ ceasefire” supersedes the Ceasefire Agreement of 2021? This question should take us to new trajectory of the sanctity of the agreements in two different ways. One , Pakistan did two things , it retaliated to strikes at its terror infrastructure of May 7 , through violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2021. It undermined the sanctity of the ceasefire agreement of 2021 to justify the gruesome act of terrorism in Pahalgam.

( C) The way forward to protect the situation is, Pakistan should forswear use of terrorists as its strategic assets which bleed neighbours; and also declare that it will not violate the ceasefire of five years ago to avenge the attacks on its terror camps and bases on its soil.

As such the ball is in the court of Pakistan to save both the agreements .

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