Pakistan and India have agreed to withdraw by the end of May the military reinforcements deployed on their border during the worst military confrontation between the neighboring countries in decades, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a senior Pakistani official, BTA reported.
The military action erupted after a deadly attack in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, which Delhi said was carried out by Islamabad-backed jihadists.
Pakistan rejected the accusations, but this did not prevent the two neighboring nuclear powers from finding themselves on the brink of a new open war, exchanging attacks with drones, artillery and missiles. The escalation has prompted both sides to increase troop numbers along their borders, especially along the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir, which is already heavily militarized.
A ceasefire, announced in surprise by US President Donald Trump, ended hostilities on May 10.
Two days later, senior officers from the two armies exchanged phone calls and agreed to "immediate steps to reduce the number of troops deployed along the borders," the Indian General Staff said. These forces will be withdrawn "gradually" to return to pre-conflict positions by the end of the month, according to an AFP source.
It was initially planned to do so within 10 days, but "there were delays", he added.
India and Pakistan have disputed Kashmir since 1947, when both countries gained independence from the British Empire, AFP recalls.