New Delhi: Indian and Pakistani formation commanders have held their first-ever flag meeting in over two years near Chorbat La in Kargil sector to defuse some "localised" tension, Army officials said today (Feb 21, 2004).

The opposing company commanders of the rank of Major held the flag meeting yesterday (Feb 20, 2004) for over 40 minutes in the 8 mountain division sector, a hotbed in the 1999 Kargil conflict to defuse tension on the Line of Control following a "misunderstanding", they said.

The flag meeting to settle the issue was mooted after the Director General of Military operations of the two countries spoke over the hotline. This was the first flag meeting between local Army commanders after Operation Parakram after the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.

The BSF (Border Security Force)-Pakistan rangers have held a series of flag meetings along the international border in the Jammu and Punjab region.

The Director General of Military operations of both the countries agreed to hold more such flag meetings in all areas along the Line of Control in case of misunderstanding, the official said.