BSF, Pak Rangers hold commander-level flag meet in Jammu

The BSF and Pakistan Rangers held the first sectoral commander-level meet on Thursday, after last year's heavy cross-border shelling, at a border outpost here and decided to re-energise communication between field commanders.

"On the request of Pakistan Rangers, a sector commander-level flag meeting was held between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers today from 1130 hours to 1320 hours on the IB (International Border) at Suchetgarh in Jammu district," a senior BSF officer said.

The BSF delegation comprising 18 officers was led by DIG P S Dhiman of Jammu sector, while Chenab Rangers' Sector Commander Brig. Amjad Hussain of Sialkot, Punjab led the Pakistani delegation of 18 officers, including three wing commanders.

It was the first sector commander-level meeting between the two border guarding forces after the heavy shelling and fire exchanges at the border areas in October-November 2016, with the Indian forces foiling several infiltration bids by Pakistani militants.

Firing from the Indian side to foil infiltration bids had also resulted in three terrorists being killed. The terrorists were attempting to sneak into India through a tunnel on November 29, 2016. The tunnel was also found by BSF personnel on February 13, 2017 in the Chamliyal area of Ramgarh sector, the officer said.

During the flag meeting, the commanders of both the forces discussed various issues, including the infiltration bids on October 18-19, 2016 in Bobiya sector, the killing of late constable Gurnam Singh by Pakistani forces and the detection of the tunnel.

They also discussed infiltration bids by terrorists from the Pakistani soil, firing in Ramgarh sector, the return to India of Constable Sohan Lal of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who had inadvertently strayed into Pakistan in 2014, besides other routine issues related to border management, the officer said.

"It was also decided to re-energise instant communication between field commanders, whenever required, to resolve petty matters," he 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 tranquillity at the border.