The Hindu : Indian, Pakistani Army officials hold flag meeting

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

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Indian, Pakistani Army officials hold flag meeting

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. After a gap of two years, Army officials of India and Pakistan met for the first time on the Line of Control on Friday to sort out a "misunderstanding." The flag meeting was held in the Kargil sector where soldiers from both countries had battled each other in 1999. The two armies have also frequently exchanged artillery salvos till the guns fell silent on November 25 last year.

All flag meetings had stopped after the December 13, 2001, attack on Parliament with the two armies entering into an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. However, tensions eased after India suggested confidence building measures last year, some of which were accepted by Pakistan resulting in the ceasefire on the LoC that has held so far.However, the soldiers of the two armies recently became belligerent near Chorbat La in the high altitude Kargil sector. The issue of "different perceptions about the LoC" was discussed during the weekly hotline conversation between the two top officers in charge of military operations and it was felt that senior officers on the ground could amicably resolve the matter. Accordingly, the two Majors heading their respective formations met for over 40 minutes and discussed the issue.

Earlier, during their weekly conversation, the two chiefs of military operations felt the option of holding meetings between heads of frontline formations could be explored whenever the ceasefire agreement showed signs of fraying.

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