After nearly two-and-half hours of “cordial, positive and constructive” talks, the first in over a decade, India and Pakistan Army on Tuesday reiterated their “resolve and commitment” to continue with “ceasefire, peace and tranquility” on the 778-km Line of Control (LoC) between them in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army’s Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia crossed over the international border (IB) from Amritsar into Pakistan to meet with his Pakistan Army counterpart Major General Aamer Riaz at Wagah near Lahore for the meeting, which was agreed upon in October this year, but could happen only now after Islamabad proposed the date less than a week ago.To carry forward the “positive spirit” of the DGMOs meeting, two flag meetings between Brigade commanders would be held on the LoC in the near future, “to ensure maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LoC”.
The meeting was called by the two Armies to discuss issues relating to the LoC violence, including ceasefire violations and killings of soldiers. “The meeting was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. Both DGMOs showed their commitment to maintain the sanctity and ceasefire on the LoC and agreed to re-energise the existing mechanisms,” a joint statement issued in New Delhi and Islamabad simultaneously after the meeting, said.
“Consensus was developed to make hotline contact between the two DGMOs more effective and result-oriented. It was also decided to inform each other if any innocent civilian inadvertently crosses LoC, in order to ensure his or her early return,” it added. Both sides reiterated resolve and commitment to continue efforts for ensuring ceasefire, peace and tranquility on the LoC.
The meeting between the two DGMOs -- to re-start the peace initiatives between the two sides and ramp it up at the military, diplomatic and political level -- was first mooted and agreed upon by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif respectively, when they had met in New York in October this year for the first time since the latter returned to power in Islamabad.
As expected, both sides presented their views and stand on the LoC-related issues at the meeting.
Sources said India listed the over 190 ceasefire violations and unprovoked killing of soldiers along the LoC and IB since January this year and asked Pakistan to stop these, as it created a vicious cycle of violence and retaliatory strikes.
The Indian DGMO also wanted the Pakistan Army to desist from pushing in militants into India and to stop support and training to them, in the spirit of peace and tranquility.
The Pakistani side too talked of India violating ceasefire and asked India to provide more access to the UN Military Observers.