Indo, Pak Border DGs Agree to ‘Enhance Communication’

The Indo-Pak DG-level talks conclude peacefully with talk of ‘enhanced communication’ for ‘tranquil’ frontiers.

BSF Director General DK Pathak and Pakistani Rangers Director General (Punjab), Major General Umar Farooq Burki at the BSF-Pak Rangers Annual Meet at BSF headquarters in New Delhi, on Saturday. (Photo: PTI file)

India and Pakistan today agreed to jointly resolve sensitive issues like ceasefire violations and cross-border infiltration through timely exchange of information, including via email and over the telephone.

At the conclusion of bilateral DG-level border talks here, the two sides also inked some new CBMs and signed a joint record of discussions which emphasised the need to ensure security and well-being of their border populations. The two sides, sources said, also agreed to stop ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) “through enhanced communication via multiple modes at all possible levels”.

The two border guarding forces decided to initiate new Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) through regular exchange of sporting and cultural troupes and initiation of coordinated patrolling in specific border areas.

BSF Director General DK Pathak and Rangers chief Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki signed the documents.

The Wagah border. (Photo: PTI file)

The Joint Record of Discussion charting a future route map for cooperation between the two border guarding forces was signed in the day. It was mutually agreed to hold the next talks in the first half of 2016 in Pakistan
— A BSF statement

“The talks ended on an optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavour to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders,” the statement added.