Indo-Pak Flag Meeting decides to keep communication alive along LoC

Jammu, Dec 22: India and Pakistan today agreed to exercise restraint and keep the communication channels alive that were established through reconciliation mechanism as senior Army officers of the two countries held a Flag Meeting in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Battalion Commander Level Flag Meeting between India and Pakistan army officers was held at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district today.

"The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere to take forward the confidence building measures initiated during the Brigade Commander Level Flag Meeting in September," Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

He said that the representatives of the two nations deliberated on a host of issues, including ceasefire violations, return of civilians who cross the border inadvertently, air space violations and construction activity close to the Line of Control.

"In the meeting which lasted for nearly an hour and half, the colonel ranked officers leading the respective delegations acknowledged each other's efforts in maintaining peace and tranquillity on the Line of Control in the recent past", Mehta said.

The spokesperson noted that both the sides mutually agreed to the importance of exercising restraint on the Line of Control and keeping the communication alive through established reconciliation mechanism.

"The Flag Meeting ended on a positive note wherein the two sides exchanged pleasantries and sweets at the zero line", he said.

PTI