Indo-Pak DGMOs meet, ‘break bread’ at Wagah
25 Dec 2013 6:42 AM IST
An operative part of the joint statement issued by both sides at exactly 17:00 hrs of each capital, with Pakistan being behind India by an hour, stated: ‘Both DGMOs showed their commitment to maintain commitment to maintain the sanctity and ceasefire on the Line of Control and agreed to re-energise the existing mechanisms (for maintaining ceasefire).’ They also established a consensus to make the weekly telephonic ‘hotline’ contact between them more effective and result-oriented.
A new element that has been added to the ‘existing mechanisms’ is that if any innocent civilian inadvertently crosses the LoC, one side will inform the other and ensure safe passage back for him or her. The other positive of the DGMOs meet is the decision about holding two flag meetings between brigade commanders on the LoC ‘in the near future,’ to ensure maintenance of ‘peace and tranquility.’
The meeting itself took place despite reported disinclination of the armies of Pakistan and India to hold the meeting after all the mayhem of the past few months.
Since August, there have been regular ‘ceasefire violations,’ which at last count stood at more than 200. The two PMs had met on the sidelines of the 67th UNGA in end-September and had discussed the possibility of the DGMOs’ meet.
A new element that has been added to the ‘existing mechanisms’ is that if any innocent civilian inadvertently crosses the LoC, one side will inform the other and ensure safe passage back for him or her. The other positive of the DGMOs meet is the decision about holding two flag meetings between brigade commanders on the LoC ‘in the near future,’ to ensure maintenance of ‘peace and tranquility.’
The meeting itself took place despite reported disinclination of the armies of Pakistan and India to hold the meeting after all the mayhem of the past few months.
Since August, there have been regular ‘ceasefire violations,’ which at last count stood at more than 200. The two PMs had met on the sidelines of the 67th UNGA in end-September and had discussed the possibility of the DGMOs’ meet.
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