Andalib Akhter / AMN
NEW DELHI : Director General-level talks between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers today ended on positive note with both side adopting pragmatic and forward-looking approach to move forward. The two side also signed a joint declaration.
According to an official statement, the talks were held in a constructive atmosphere and need for cooperation to maintain sanctity of borders was stressed upon.
Specific issues of concern like incidents of firing at the borders, smuggling of narcotics, infiltration attempts and defence construction activities were discussed.
The issue of inadvertent crossing over by border population and on how to facilitate their return on both the sides was also discussed.
It was mutually agreed to hold the next talks in the first half of 2016 in Pakistan.
The 23 member Indian delegation was led by DG BSF D K Pathak and the Pakistani delegation was led by Umar Farooq Burki.
DG BSF D K Pathak told media that the talks with the Pakistani delegation were cordial, pragmatic and forward-looking.
Reiterating that India wants friendly relations with all its neighbours, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said Indian forces will not fire the first bullet along the international border. He asked Pakistan to ensure that no infiltration takes place from their side as well.
India yesterday assured Pakistan that the its forces would not fire the first bullet along the border between the two countries so long as Pakistan ensures that terrorists do not infiltrate into India from the Pakistani side.
The exchange between Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) Director General (DG) Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki came on Friday, hours after a battle in the town of Handwara in Indian-held Kashmir that left two army men and two terrorists dead.
A Burki-led Rangers delegation is in Delhi was a three-day visit to hold talks with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to discuss ways of reducing tension along the border. The DG-level talks will conclude on Saturday.
On Thursday, the directors general of the Rangers and the BSF had agreed to end ceasefire violations by devising new strategies, like joint patrolling in some areas along the border in the disputed Kashmir territory.
They had discussed that the troops across the international border could start speaking to one another more frequently to swiftly sort out local issues at lower levels.
On Friday as well the Rangers raised the need of greater communication between the two border guarding troops.
Rajnath singh said that both Pakistan and India must unite against the menace of terrorism. “Like India, Pakistan too is a victim of terrorism.”
He said India wanted to engage in dialogue with Pakistan on different levels, which was why Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif in Ufa in July.
Quoting former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh said: “We can change our friends, but not our neighbours.” This is why it is necessary to have cordial relations with all the neighbouring countries, added the home minister.