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Vajpayee tells DGMO to visit Pakistan

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has instructed the director general of military operations to visit Pakistan and hold talks with his counterpart to strengthen peace along the Line of Control and in Siachen.

The decision was taken in view of the relative peace along the Line of Control and the Actual Ground Position Line since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last year, when the government had announced cessation of non-combat operations in Jammu & Kashmir, the external affairs ministry spokeswoman said on Friday.

Vajpayee has also suggested expert-level talks on nuclear issues.

According to the spokeswoman, encouraged by the "relative quiet along the LoC and AGPL", the prime minister has instructed the army's DGMO to visit Pakistan and meet his counterpart "at an early date of mutual convenience so that the processes for peace can be strengthened".

Asked if the officer would visit Pakistan before the Agra summit, which is scheduled to take place on July 15, she said the dates would be worked out according to the two DGMOs' convenience.

The spokeswoman said the "establishment of durable peace and stability between India and Pakistan is vital for both countries". She added: "Violence continues to be fomented in Jammu & Kashmir from beyond our borders. This must stop."

She also said that both India and Pakistan "are committed to engage in bilateral consultations on security concepts and nuclear confidence-building measures".

To give "meaning to this commitment, the prime minister has instructed that an official dialogue at the experts level should be proposed immediately", she said. In addition, "non-official exchanges should be encouraged".

No specific information was available on the team's composition, the date and venue of the meeting, or whether Pakistan had been consulted. The spokeswoman said the "ministry of external affairs will initiate action accordingly".

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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