DG-level talks: India, Pak to step up effort for ‘tranquil’ frontiers

The two sides also inked some new CBMs and signed a joint record of discussions which emphasised the need to ensure security and well-being of their border populations.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Director General D.K. Pathak, left, and Pakistani Rangers Director General (Punjab) Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki shake hands as they pose for photographs before the start of their delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, Thursday. (Source: AP Photo)

The DirectorS General of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers have agreed on prompt exchange of information over multiple modes of communication such as telephone, email or fax to mutually resolve issues like ceasefire violations and tackle cross-border infiltration.

With talks in New Delhi drawing to an end Friday, BSF DG D K Pathak and Rangers chief Major General Umar Farooq Burki Saturday signed a Joint Record of Discussion “charting a future route map of cooperation between the two border guarding forces”. The security of the border population on both sides was a primary concern, a joint press statement released by the BSF Saturday said.

“The talks were held in a constructive atmosphere. The need for cooperation to maintain the sanctity of the borders was stressed upon,” the statement read. It added, “It was mutually agreed to hold the next talks in the first half of 2016 in Pakistan. The talks ended on an optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavour to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders.”

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Specific issues of concern such as incidents of firing at the borders, smuggling of narcotics, infiltration attempts and defence construction activities were discussed during the talks, as was the issue of inadvertent crossing over by the border population and how to facilitate their return.

“The security of the border population being a primary concern of both sides, it was felt that utmost caution and care would be taken to deal with the civilians. The need for confidence building measures including timely exchange of information at the field level and mobile communication, simultaneous coordinated patrolling, and sporting events were also discussed,” stated the joint statement.

After the Joint Record of Discussion was signed by the two DGs, the Rangers boarded a special BSF plane to Amritsar, where they would witness the retreat ceremony from the Indian side at Attari in the evening. BSF commanders of the Punjab frontier would then bid a formal farewell to the delegation that will cross over to Wagah.

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