Pak, BSF DG-level talks begin today

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
Attari (Amritsar)/New Delhi, September 9
A high-level delegation of Pakistan Rangers, headed by its Director General Umar Farooq Burki, today crossed over to India through Attari-Wagah land route for the crucial four-day meeting with its Indian counterpart Border Security Force (BSF) DG, DK Pathak.
The 16-member delegation entered India around 12.30pm and after a brief halt at Khasa headquarters of the BSF, it left for New Delhi, where the talks will take place, from Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport around 4pm.
They were welcomed by the BSF IG, Punjab Frontier, Anil Paliwal, at the Zero line. Besides Paliwal, a battery of BSF officials, including BSF DIG (Amritsar) MF Farooqui, was present at the joint check post (JCP). A guard of honour was presented to the visiting DG at the Attari-Wagah JCP.
The second meeting since 2013 is being considered very important after the National Security Advisers’ talks between the two nations were cancelled on August 23 over the proposed meeting of separatists with Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz that was opposed by India. The last meeting was held in Lahore in December 2013.
The 23-member Indian side is expected to raise the issue of unabated ceasefire violations by Pakistan Rangers along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed many civilians, unprovoked firings and infiltration bids besides other important issues such as smuggling of contraband along the International Border and other border management problems.
India will suggest enhancing the levels of cooperation between the two forces such as communication between local commanders and coordinated patrolling. “It depends on Pakistan if they accept our suggestions or not,” said a source in the BSF.
The two forces are likely to finalise the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting either tonight or early tomorrow morning. Mediapersons were not allowed to go beyond custom gates for the high profile visit.
 
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