DGMOs of India, Pakistan to meet when needed: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: The Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan will meet each other when they feel the need for it, Defence Minister AK Antony said here today.

"The two DGMOs are talking and let them talk. Whenever they feel, they will meet. It is up to them," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function to celebrate India's victory in 1971 war with Pakistan.

The Minister was asked why the meeting between the two DGMOs was not taking place despite directions issued by prime ministers of the two countries in this regard.

"Of late, the incidents of firing on the Line of Control have come down. Not completely, but it has come down of late," Antony said on the situation on the LoC.

The DGMO-level meeting was first proposed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's talks with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the US.

DGMOs of the two sides talk to each other on Tuesdays and discuss the issue of ceasefire violations on the LoC and the International Border.

Flag meetings to be held at local formation commander level are mostly fixed during these talks.

This year, there have been more than 150 ceasefire violations by the Pakistan side and they have also carried out attacks inside the Indian territory on certain occasions.

The Indian Army's preparedness on the LoC has also been questioned after raids by Border Action Teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army in January and August.