India Pakistan tensions ease as troop withdrawal, border ceremony resumption announced

Pakistan and India have agreed to withdraw troop reinforcements to pre-conflict positions by the end of May 2025, which along with the resumption of the popular Attari-Wagah border ceremony, signals a move toward normalization after the deadliest clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.

The agreement comes two weeks after a four-day conflict that killed more than 70 people, according to both governments, across their heavily militarized border.

"Troops will be withdrawn to pre-conflict positions by the end of May," a senior Pakistani security official told AFP on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The official said both countries have agreed to a phased withdrawal of additional troops and weaponry deployed along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region.

"All of these steps were initially planned to be completed within 10 days, but minor issues caused delays," the official added.

Last week, the Indian army stated that both sides had agreed to take "immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas."

Border ceremony resumed

Meanwhile, India's Border Security Force announced Tuesday it would resume the daily sunset ceremony at the Attari-Wagah land border in Punjab state. The event will be open to media on Tuesday and to the general public on Wednesday.

Pakistan maintains it never stopped the ceremony, with its troops continuing to perform the ritual alone on their side of the border while India had suspended participation.

The border ceremony, featuring soldiers from both sides performing theatrical goose-stepping and chest-puffing routines, has long been a popular tourist attraction despite persistent tensions between the countries.

Despite these positive developments, diplomatic restrictions remain in place, including the closure of the land border crossing for regular traffic.

Recent tensions

The recent conflict erupted on May 7 when India launched strikes against what it claimed were "terrorist camps" in Pakistan, following an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed several civilians. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the attack, a charge Pakistan denies.

The military confrontation quickly escalated to include drone strikes, missiles, aerial combat, and artillery exchanges before U.S. President Donald Trump announced a surprise ceasefire, which has held since.

Kashmir remains at the center of tensions between the neighbors, having been claimed in full by both countries since their independence. The region has been the flashpoint for multiple wars and skirmishes over the past 78 years.

*With input from AFP