Encouraged by the success of the ceasefire along the LoC, the Army headquarters is seriously considering a proposal to connect key Indian and Pakistani formations by setting up hotlines.It is understood that the Military Operations directorate has moved a proposal to set up hotlines between the Uri-based 28 Divisional headquarters and Pakistani divisional headquarters in Muzaffarabad. It has proposed to set up another hotline connecting the Rajouri-based 25 Divisional headquarters to the Pakistan Army’s divisional headquarters based in Jhelum.Army officials say the proposal has found favour on both sides with the Indian DGMO having discussed the issue with his Pakistani counterpart during their weekly talks. South Block sources say that while the proposal is yet to be accepted by the Government, it would be part of a series of confidence building measures undertaken to firm up Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s peace initiative.Both 28 and 25 Divisions of the Army play a key role in manning the International Border as well as the LoC and participate in all major counter-insurgency operations on either side of Pir Panjal in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, a Brigadier commanding the Army’s 12 brigade, which looks after the Uri road leading to Muzaffarabad, had a hotline to his Pakistani counterpart. However, the practice was discontinued some time ago.The proposal to connect the divisional headquarters with Divisional headquarters will be part of the confidence building measures being undertaken by both sides. In fact, both the armies held their first flag meeting on February 20. A company commander met his Pakistani counterpart for 40 minutes at a forward post in Chorbat La after a ‘‘misunderstanding’’ in the Batalik sector three weeks ago. The proposal had been discussed by the DGMOs following the incident and both decided to start flag meetings in sensitive sectors. Incidentally the hotline between the two DGMOs has been the only bilateral connection that has been kept open ever since it was set up. Both the DGMOs speak to each other every Tuesday.
