Jammu: BSF and Pak Rangers Friday held a flag meeting along the international border in Suchetgarh sector of R S Pura here while issues like sniping and ceasefire violations were discussed.
“On the request of Pakistan Rangers from 1100 hrs to 1245 hrs, a Sector Commander level Flag Meeting was held between Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers on International Border in Suchetgarh area,” official spokesman here said.
He said the BSF delegation comprising 17 officers was led by P S Dhiman, DIG BSF Jammu Sector and Brig Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander Chenab Rangers, Sialkot Punjab, Pakistan led the Pakistan delegation comprising of 14 officers, including three Wing Commanders.
Last meeting of Sector Cdr level was held on March 9, 2017.
This meeting is the first Sector Commander level meeting on request of Pakistan Rangers between two border guarding forces since heavy shelling and firing experienced on the International Border in the month of September 2017 in which BSF gave strong calibrated reply to Pakistan.
“During this period of firing and shelling, BSF successfully foiled a number of infiltration attempts from Pakistan’s soil, including killing of one intruder who infiltrated on September 4, 2017 in area of Arnia Sector,” he said.
The spokesman said during the meeting, BSF objected on dastardly acts of snipping of two BSF soldiers –Late Constable Brijendra Bahadur and Constable K K Appa Rao on 14 September and 25 August 2017, respectively while performing their duty on forward duty points along the border security fence by Pak Rangers and further carrying out unprovoked cross border firing and shelling on a number of Indian border villages targeting innocent civilian and their properties.
“BSF conveyed strong protest with message that such provocative acts will not be tolerated and are unacceptable by BSF and shall be responded with equal and more measures,” he added.
The spokesman said that besides discussion on number of other issues related to border management, BSF strongly objected for allowing movement of armed intruder in close vicinity of International Boundary during night time for infiltration attempts into India from Pakistan territory.
“During discussion, Pak Rangers assured for taking required measures to maintain peace at border with request that BSF should also restrain as much as possible in counter measures to see that minimum civilian loss caused on Pak side,” he added.
“It was decided to re-energize instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve the petty matters,” said the spokesman, adding that the meeting was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and both sides agreed for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken in the earlier meeting and committed to each other to maintain peace and tranquility at International Border.
