Wrapping up the four-day bilateral talks between their border guarding forces on Saturday, India and Pakistan agreed to jointly resolve sensitive issues like ceasefire violations and infiltration through improved communication channels between the two sides and coordinated patrolling along the border.
Both the sides have also agreed to begin new confidence building measures like regular exchange of sporting and cultural troupes and signed a Joint Record of Discussion charting a future roadmap of cooperation between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.
“With the security of the border population being the primary concern of both the 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 etc, were also discussed,” the BSF said in a statement.
The chiefs of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers had led the dialogue and both sides maintained that the talks were held in a constructive atmosphere. The need for cooperation to maintain the sanctity of the borders was stressed upon. “The Joint Record of Discussion charting a future route map for cooperation between the two border guarding forces was signed here at the BSF headquarters.
Both the countries have mutually agreed to hold the next talks in the first half of 2016 in Pakistan,” a BSF statement said after its DG DK Pathak and Rangers chief Major-General Umar Farooq Burki signed the documents.
“The talks ended on an optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavour to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders,” read the statement.
The BSF further said, “The meeting took up specific issues of concern. 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.”
Both the forces, up to the level of Directors General, will exchange mobile numbers, email IDs and fax numbers for quick and swift communication to resolve situations.