Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday, welcoming the ceasefire announced on the Line of Control (LoC), said Pakistan has always stood for peace and remains "ready to move forward to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue".
"The onus of creating an enabling environment for further progress rests with India."
The DGMO's of Pakistan and India agreed to enforce the ceasefire – which came into effect on February 25 – on the disputed border between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Congratulating the armed forces and the nation on the second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, the prime minister said the country demonstrated responsible behaviour in the face of "India's irresponsible military brinkmanship" by returning the captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot.
"I congratulate the entire nation and salute our Armed Forces on the 2nd Anniversary of our response to India's illegal, reckless military adventure of airstrikes against Pakistan," stated the prime minister.
On February 27, 2019, a day after the botched Balakot airstrike by the IAF, the Pakistan Air Force retaliated and in the following air action, two Indian aircraft – a MIG-21 and a SU-30 – were shot down. One of the aircraft crashed in Azad Kashmir and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan, was capture. Islamabad released the pilot after a day of captivity.
"As a proud and confident nation, we responded with determined resolve at a time and place of our choosing," said Imran on Twitter.
The announcement for the ceasefire on the LoC was made simultaneously by both Islamabad and New Delhi after a telephonic conversation between senior military officials of the two countries.
The rare joint statement came against the backdrop of worsening relations between the two countries since the Pulwama incident in February 2019.
The thaw is seen as a major development after years of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. It also came just days before the second anniversary of the Balakot incident and subsequent retaliation by Pakistan that brought the two countries on the brink of war.
The apparent thaw in ties is being attributed to quiet diplomacy between the two countries.
Observers believe that the Indian government’s willingness to agree to a ceasefire may be linked to its tense standoff with China for months.
Although India and China recently disengaged from Pangong Lake in Ladakh region, tensions still persist between the two countries.
It is believed that India by seeking reduction in the tension along the LoC wants to concentrate on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
