First meeting of India, Pak DGMOs in 14 years on Dec 24

AMRITSAR: For the first time, Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet on December 24 near Indo-Pak international border in Punjab to discuss the mechanism for reducing tension along the Line of Control (LoC).

According to sources, DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia would cross over to Pakistan on Tuesday to hold discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Amir Riaz at Wagah border.

Officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi informed TOI on Friday that the DGMO of Pakistan had invited his Indian counterpart for a meeting to strengthen the mechanism to ensure ceasefire on LoC.

Army spokesperson Naresh Vig confirmed that the meeting was scheduled for December 24, but he declined to divulge the venue.

Sources associated with arranging it said this was the first face-to-face meeting of two DGMOs in 14 years, though they speak to each other over the hotline every Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled to take place at newly created Integrated Check Post at Wagah, Pakistan.

The meeting between the two DGMOs was proposed when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York on September 29.

Sources informed that critical issues, including violation of ceasefire by Pakistan along LoC, Pak army's support to Kashmir-based militant groups and unprovoked firing would be discussed by two DGMOs.

The meeting could pave way for higher level meetings to de-escalate tension at LoC and build an atmosphere of peace between two nations.

The tension along LoC had assumed alarming proportions following incidents of beheading of Indian soldiers by Special Services Group of Pakistan Army in January, killing of 5 Indian soldiers in Chakan-Da-Bagh and continues violation of ceasefire said sources.