India-Pakistan held 3 rounds of Track II talks after Op Sindoor with focus on conflict management

At least three rounds of Track II diplomatic dialogue have been held between Indian and Pakistani delegations since Operation Sindoor (May 2025), with furthe...

What Happened

At least three rounds of Track II diplomatic dialogue have been held between Indian and Pakistani delegations since Operation Sindoor (May 2025), with further rounds expected later in 2026.
The talks have focused on conflict management and de-escalation rather than dispute resolution on core political issues.
Sensitive issues such as the Jammu & Kashmir question and the Indus Waters Treaty — both carrying major political weight — have been deliberately placed lower on the agenda.
The Pakistan Army has taken more formal oversight of the Track II process on its side, exercising greater control over which participants attend and what messages they carry.
One significant session was held in Doha, Qatar in February 2026, supported by a UK-based think tank.
Formal diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan remain in deep freeze; no official Track I engagement has resumed.

Static Topic Bridges

Track II Diplomacy

Track II diplomacy, a term coined in 1981 by American diplomat Joseph Montville, refers to informal, non-structured dialogue between non-officials — typically former government officials, academics, journalists, think-tank researchers, and civil society representatives. It operates outside the formal diplomatic channel (Track I) and is not binding on governments.

Track II provides a low-risk space to test ideas, build trust, and communicate signals without official commitment.
Track 1.5 diplomacy involves a hybrid format where some current officials participate in an unofficial capacity alongside non-officials.
The Neemrana Dialogue has been one of the longest-running India-Pakistan Track II initiatives.
Track II has historically been used during periods when official India-Pakistan relations are frozen.
No formal statements or press releases are issued; participation is typically not confirmed publicly.

Connection to this news: With formal ties frozen after Operation Sindoor, Track II serves as the only functional channel through which both sides can signal willingness to manage tensions without requiring political-level commitments from either government.

Operation Sindoor (May 7, 2025)

Operation Sindoor was India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, in which 26 civilians were killed. The Indian Air Force struck nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir between 1:05 and 1:30 am IST, targeting infrastructure linked to terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The strikes marked the first time India targeted locations in Pakistan's Punjab province since the 1971 war.
No Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure was stated as a target.
A ceasefire was agreed between the two Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) on May 10, 2025.
The operation significantly raised the threshold of India's stated counter-terrorism posture.

Connection to this news: Operation Sindoor fundamentally altered the bilateral diplomatic landscape. Track II talks in its aftermath represent a managed attempt to prevent further escalation while official channels remain closed.

India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue and Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, allocates the six rivers of the Indus basin between India and Pakistan. It has survived multiple wars and is considered one of the world's most resilient water-sharing treaties. India put the treaty's operation under review following Operation Sindoor.

The IWT gives India rights over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and Pakistan over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab).
The Permanent Indus Commission meets annually; India-initiated modifications have been under discussion since 2023.
Pakistan is heavily dependent on the western rivers for agriculture and water security.

Connection to this news: The IWT's politically fraught status means Track II participants are deliberately sidestepping it, focusing only on immediate conflict management rather than structural disputes.

Key Facts & Data

Number of Track II rounds since Operation Sindoor: at least 3.
Operation Sindoor date: May 7, 2025.
Trigger: Pahalgam terror attack (April 22, 2025) — 26 civilians killed.
Targets of Indian airstrikes: 9 locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Ceasefire between DGMOs: May 10, 2025.
Notable Track II venue: Doha, Qatar (February 2026).
Pakistan Army has increased formal control over its Track II delegations post-Sindoor.
Core contentious issues deliberately de-prioritised: J&K, Indus Waters Treaty.