SRINAGAR: The BSF and Pakistan Rangers on Friday held a sector commander-level flag meeting along the International Border (IB) in Suchetgarh sector of Jammu and Kashmir and surprisingly did not discuss the ceasefire violations, which have witnessed surge in first two months of this year.
A BSF spokesman in Jammu said a sector commander level flag meeting was held between BSF and Pakistan Rangers on the IB in Suchetgarh area of Jammu today.
He said the BSF delegation comprising nine officers was led by DIG BSF Jammu Sector PS Dhiman while Brig Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander, Sialkot, Punjab led the Pakistan delegation comprising 11 officers.
The spokesman said during the meeting, general day-to-day border management issues were discussed.
“While reiterating commitment towards maintaining peace and tranquillity on the IB, BSF officials sought Pakistan Rangers’ cooperation for the same, which was agreed by them,” he said adding the meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere.
When asked whether the ceasefire violations were not discussed in the meeting, the spokesman said, “It was a general meeting. It discussed the day-to-day issues”.
He said the January 25 meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers discussed the ceasefire violations issue.
“Today’s meeting was a normal meeting,” he said.
It is surprising that the BSF officials did not discuss the ceasefire violations issue with their Pakistani counterparts.
The Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed surge in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year.
A BSF constable S K Murmu of Bihar died in Pakistani troops sniper fire along the LoC in Karnah sector of Tanghdar in North Kashmir on January 20.
Three persons including a lady were injured and three residential houses damaged in Pakistani troops firing and mortar shelling in Uri in two days.
After the continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Uri sector in north Kashmir, about 500 border residents have moved to safer places.
At least 21 people including 12 army and BSF men and nine civilians have been killed and over 75 others injured in Pakistani troops firing and mortar shelling along the LoC and IB in J&K this year.
In 2017, 35 people including 19 army men, four BSF personnel and 12 civilians were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the State