BSF, Pakistan Rangers agree to maintain peace on border

Pakistan and India today agreed to boost existing mechanisms to ensure peace and tranquillity and to control ceasefire violations on the international border.
"Consensus was developed to utilise available communication channels more effectively to control violations at the zero line," said a statement issued after a five-day bi-annual meeting of top officials of Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force here.
The two sides "showed their commitment to maintain the sanctity of working boundary as well as international border and agreed to re-energise the existing mechanisms", the statement said.
The agreement came four days after the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries decided to maintain the 2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control after months of clashes and heavy exchanges of fire.

The 13-member Indian delegation was led by BSF chief Subhash Joshi while the Pakistan Rangers team was headed by Maj Gen Khan Tahir Javed Khan. The officials of the two forces held face-to-face talks after one-and-half years.
"The meeting was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere," the statement said.

Both sides agreed on "zero tolerance" for smuggling and to take strict action against smugglers according to the laws of the two countries.
They further agreed that people who inadvertently cross the border would be immediately returned to their respective countries.
Consensus was developed on matters like stopping illegal construction, removing wild growth and maintaining boundary pillars, the statement said.

It was decided that regular meetings will be held between the two forces at all levels of command to ensure peace and tranquillity on the international border.
The next meeting of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers will be held in New Delhi in the first half of 2014.
After the end of the bi-annual meeting this afternoon, the Indian delegation left for home after witnessing the daily parade at the Wagah land border crossing.