WASHINGTON: The US has asked India to accept Pakistan’s suggestion for including civilian diplomats in the proposed DGMOs’ dialogue, US and Indian media reported on Monday.

Under a mechanism agreed between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in New York, the two countries agreed that their Director Generals Military Operations would hold regular talks for reducing tensions along the Line of Control (LoC). But the process is yet to take off.

Media reports claimed that the US proposed involving civilian diplomats because it believed it would help strengthen the civilian government in Pakistan. The US also felt that involving diplomats in an issue that still remains a preserve of the military in Pakistan will also boost the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indians, however, turned down the request, the media reported.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, who just concluded a visit to Washington, told US officials that the LoC was a military issue and New Delhi “did not see a diplomatic role in what was essentially a military issue,” said one report.