India, Pak officials share stage, twice

For the first time since the May 7-10 skirmishes between India and Pakistan, senior representatives of the two countries have shared space at international forums with a span of two days. The Indian representatives — Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoS for External Affairs, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan — took part in multilateral meetings at Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and Singapore, respectively. Their photographs posted on the social media showed representatives from Pakistan sharing the frame. While officials from the two sides have attended such multi-lateral forums in the past, their presence at such events assumes significance in the wake of Operation Sindoor. On Friday evening, Kirti Vardhan Singh had posted a group picture on ‘X’ with participants during the opening session of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe. It showed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the front row and Indian minister in the third. Today, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, an office under the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, posted a group picture showing the CDS and senior military commanders at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, was also in the frame. They participated in separate sessions on Saturday afternoon. A bilateral meeting between the two was, however, now scheduled. The post on X said: “Chiefs of Defence from around the globe deliberated on pressing security challenges and explored emerging trends and innovative solutions.” General Anil Chauhan separately met top military commanders of the US, Japan and Australia — all partners with India in the Quad grouping. He met Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command, on the sidelines of Shangri La Dialogue today. A post on X said: “Discussions centred on Operation Sindoor, strengthening military-to-military cooperation.” Yesterday, the CDS had met General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of Japan, and Admiral David Johnston, Chief of Defence Force, Australia.

Nation