Sartaj not given PM appointment

Gurgaon: In a clear snub to Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, PM Manmohan Singh did not meet him despite a request for an appointment with him. Instead, Aziz met National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon on Tuesday evening.

However, there appeared some forward movement on a proposal to have a meeting between the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) of the two countries following a bilateral meeting between Mr Aziz and external affairs Salman Khurshid on the margins of the Asem (Asia-Europe) foreign ministers’ meeting earlier on Tuesday.

Asked when the DGMOs would meet, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbardduin said, “Both agreed that the DGMOs should meet at an early date because that is what can take this further.” He further said the DGMOs report to their Army Chiefs and “and we hope they will take the process forward based on mutual discussions between the DGMOs.”

While the two sides have agreed yet again that the DGMOs will meet, it is unlikely that the stalled peace dialogue will resume.