LAHORE: Pakistan and India Tuesday decided to “revitalize” existing mechanisms to maintain truce on the Line of Control (LoC), Geo News reported.
The accord was reached at the meeting of the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two sides, who held face-to-face talks for the first time in 14 years at the Wagah border.
A joint statement said the DGMOs “agreed to reenergize the existing mechanisms” to maintain the ceasefire on the LoC.
“We had a cordial, constructive and fruitful meeting. We discussed the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the existing mechanisms,” DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia said after two-hour-long talks with his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Aamer Riaz.
“We both decided to ensure ceasefire and strengthen the existing mechanisms.”
Two flag meetings between brigade commanders will be held on the LoC in the near future to ensure peace and tranquility, the statement said.
The DGMOs decided to make their hotline contact “more effective and result-oriented”, it said.
They further decided to inform each other of inadvertent crossing of the LoC by any civilian to ensure his early return.
This meeting was an outcome of talks between Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Indian premier Manmohan Singh in New York in September at the height of tensions triggered by the LoC flare-ups.
The premiers had decided the DGMOs should hold talks to reduce tensions.
Besides tensions on the Line of Control (LoC), the DGMOs discussed matters related to the international boundary with a focus on maintaining the 2003 ceasefire and ensuring normalcy.
Earlier, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said that meeting between Director Generals Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan Army and Indian Army was held in a cordial atmosphere and remained positive.
Two brigadiers and two colonels assisted Pakistani DGMO, while two brigadiers and three colonels aided his Indian counterpart.
He said both the sides discussed to further reinforce the ceasefire agreement concluded between Pakistan and India in 2003 to reduce tensions along the LoC and Working Boundary.
The DGMO of Pakistan Army had extended invitation to the DGMO of Indian Army for this meeting. Earlier Major General Aamer Riaz welcomed the Indian delegation led by Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia at Wagha Border. The Indian delegation left for New Delhi after the talks.
sc:THE NEWS
