DGMO's talks took place on Pakistan's request: Gen. Bikram Singh

Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Monday said the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) meet on December 24 last year, was held at the request of Pakistan, and added that the talks were aimed at ensuring the sanctity of the November 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).

Addressing his annual press conference, General Singh said, "The DGMO's talk was based on the request which came from Pakistan's side. It is a move in the right direction. The point was to ensure that the ceasefire holds between the two countries, and the environment over there is conducive for development on both sides according to the aspirations of locals."

"The DGMO's are in communication and talk to each other through the hotline," he said.

General Singh also said many locals in these areas are subjected to inconvenience and the ceasefire looks after their interest.

"We will see how it moves forward. At the moment, I am quite positive about the first meeting that took place. We will be having the meetings of two brigade commanders, whose dates are yet to be finalized," he said.

We are hopeful that it will ensure the ceasefire," he added.

On December 24, 2013, DGMOs of India and Pakistan had met on the Pakistan side of the Wagah Border.

Lt. General Vinod Bhatia, DGMO who led a five-member delegation and met his counterpart Maj Gen Amir Riaz, DGMO, Pakistan Army, had said: "We had a cordial, constructive and fruitful meeting. We discussed the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC)."

"We both decided to ensure ceasefire and re-energize the existing mechanisms," he added.

In a joint statement, which was released afterwards, both sides agreed to hold two flag meetings between brigade commanders on the LoC in near future to ensure maintenance of peace and tranquility.