India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed countries, are now close to bringing back their troops to normal levels at the border, as they were before the recent clashes started this month. A top Pakistani military official confirmed this on Friday. However, he also warned that the latest conflict has increased the chances of serious tensions in the future.

For four days, both countries engaged in intense fighting. They used fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery. This was the worst violence between them in decades. The situation finally calmed down after a ceasefire was announced.

The recent violence was triggered by an attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack killed 26 people, most of them tourists. India said it was carried out by “terrorists” backed by Pakistan. Pakistan denied any role in the attack.

On May 7, India launched missiles at what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan. Pakistan responded with its own missile strikes. After that, both sides increased their military presence along the border.

Pakistan says troop levels are going back to normal

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the armies on both sides have started reducing their troops.

“We have almost come back to the pre-22nd April situation… we are approaching that, or we must have approached that by now,” he said.

He is the highest-ranking Pakistani military officer to speak publicly since the conflict began. India’s Ministry of Defence and its Chief of Defence Staff’s office did not respond to Reuters’ request for comments.

General Mirza is currently in Singapore attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum. He said that during this conflict, neither side considered using nuclear weapons. Still, the situation was very risky.

“Nothing happened this time,” he said. “But you can’t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.”

Mirza pointed out that this round of fighting was more dangerous because it wasn’t limited to Kashmir. Both countries carried out attacks on military targets in each other’s mainlands. However, neither side admitted to any serious damage.

“This (conflict) lowers the threshold between two countries who are contiguous nuclear powers… in the future, it will not be restricted to the disputed territory. It would come down to (the) whole of India and (the) whole of Pakistan,” he warned. “This is a very dangerous trend.”

PM Modi gives strong warning to Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will strike “terrorist hideouts” across the border again if there are any more attacks on Indian soil.

Since becoming independent in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three major wars—two of them over Kashmir. There have also been many small-scale battles and skirmishes.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting armed rebels in its part of Kashmir since 1989, a conflict that has taken tens of thousands of lives. Pakistan denies this and says it only gives moral, political, and diplomatic support to Kashmiris fighting for self-determination.

According to Reuters, secret diplomatic talks involving the United States, India, and Pakistan helped to stop the fighting quickly. The U.S. played a major role in bringing both sides to agree on a ceasefire.

India, however, has denied any outside involvement. It insists that all discussions with Pakistan must be direct and not involve third parties.

Lack of communication could be dangerous in future conflicts

General Mirza said the lack of strong communication channels between the two countries could make things worse in future crises.

“The time window for the international community to intervene would now be very less, and I would say that damage and destruction may take place even before that time window is exploited by the international community,” he said.

He added that Pakistan is open to dialogue. But currently, the only communication links between the two nations are a crisis hotline between their top military officers and a few hotlines at the local level along the border.

India maintains a tough position on talks

India is taking a firm stance. “If there are talks, it will only be on terrorism and (Pakistan Kashmir),”
said Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. “If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should hand over terrorists… to India so that justice is served.”

No backchannel talks or planned meetings between generals

General Mirza said there are no secret talks or informal efforts happening to reduce tensions. He also confirmed that he has no plans to meet with General Anil Chauhan, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, who is also in Singapore for the same forum.

“These issues can only be resolved by dialogue and consultations, on the table. They cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” Mirza said.