The DGMOs meeting at the GHQ in Rawalpindi today (Tuesday) is being regarded as an extraordinarily rare event “in the chronicle of the fractured relationship” between Pakistan and India. This has not happened during Gen Kayani’s tenure probably because of the level of mistrust. This has never happened before. Only Lt Gen Satish Nambiar, then DGMO of India, visited Pakistan in 1991. Today Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia is coming to formally take up the issue of tensions on the Line of Control.
Observers expect a breakthrough on the LoC and it is expected that a permanent ceasefire would be agreed. If it happens, it would go a long way and determine the future economic prospects of the region, especially Pakistan that has been facing worst economic crisis. This DGMOs meeting was decided, on the invitation of Pakistan, soon after Afghan Karzai’s Islamabad and Sartaj Aziz’s New Delhi visits. It seems as if both sides have new set of proposals that may lead to the kick-start of a high level dialogue between Pakistan and India.
Maybe the meeting of prime ministers of both countries that has not so been held would be finalized as a result. An understanding between the two countries and reaching subsequently to an agreement before the US and allied forces quit withdraw from Afghanistan is need of the hour. The Pakistan-India thaw can turn the corners. Let’s hope a positive result in today’s meet at Rawalpindi. Welcome Gen Vinod Bhatia.
F Z KHAN
Islamabad