In a significant move, border-guarding forces of India and Pakistan Thursday held a flag meeting on Jammu border to defuse tensions.
“The Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers organized a sector commander-level meeting at International Border in Suchetgarh area, mainly to defuse border tensions between two nations and to re-energise communication between field commanders,” a BSF spokesperson told Greater Kashmir.
“Five member BSF delegation was led by P S Dhiman, DIG BSF Jammu Sector, while the Rangers delegation comprising of 10 officers was led by Brig Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander Chenab Rangers, Sialkot Punjab, Pakistan,” he added.
“The meeting, held at the request of Pakistan Rangers, began at 12.00 and ended at 12.30 pm,” the BSF spokesman said.
“It was first meeting since heavy shelling and firing experienced in all five border districts of entire Jammu region, which resulted in heavy loss of human lives. During this period of firing and shelling BSF foiled successfully number of infiltration attempts from Pak soil, including killing of one intruder infiltrated on 4 Jan 2018 in Arnia Sector,” he said. Last such meeting was held on September 29, 2017.
During the meeting, BSF strongly objected on killing of its two soldiers on 3 Jan and 17 January and unprovoked firing and shelling targeting number of border villages.
“It was also decided to re-energise instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve petty matters,” spokesperson added.
The officer said the meeting was held in a ‘cordial, positive and constructive’ atmosphere and both the sides agreed for an expeditious implementation of the decisions taken during earlier meetings and committed to each other to maintain peace and tranquility at the border.