Even as there have been no diplomatic, political, or bilateral talks between India and Pakistan ever since the military conflict in May 2025, there have been back-channel meetings that have been happening.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, there were at least four such meetings—two Track 1.5 meetings and two Track 2 meetings ever since Operation Sindoor.
While Track 2 talks involve retired diplomats, military veterans, and think tanks discussing issues informally without government presence, Track 1.5 dialogues include serving officials (in a personal capacity) alongside experts to quietly explore solutions on sensitive issues.
According to the report, the first Track 1.5 meeting took place in London barely weeks after Operation Sindoor. The meeting was reportedly “intense”, but the subsequent engagements were more mellow and measured.
London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) facilitated the Track 1.5 meetings. While one such meeting took place in London, another took place in Oman in October. India did not send any of its serving officials for the first Track 1.5 meeting, while the Pakistani delegation had serving military officials.
The report said a Track 2 meeting took place in Thailand, in which experts, academics, former senior officials, and political leaders from both the countries participated. The most recent of these meetings was a Track 2 meeting that took place in Doha.
“These contacts help keep a channel of communication open and also help to gauge the temperature between the two sides, thus serving an essential purpose,” HT quoted a person as saying.
