Jammu, Jan 26: After Border Security Force’s strong response to ‘unprovoked firing’ from across the border, Pakistan Rangers on Thursday sought a ‘peace meeting’ with the Indian side. Following the request, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting along the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir during which the Indian side said it won’t tolerate repeated ceasefire violations.
The BSF said the sector commander-level meeting took place in Suchetgarh area of the border “on the request” of the Pakistani side. During the meeting, the BSF warned Pakistan Rangers that its provocative acts will “not be tolerated” and registered its “strong” protest sniper assaults at its jawans by Pakistani side. Pakistani officers reportedly didn’t have anything to say when charged by India.
“During the meeting, the BSF strongly objected to (Pakistan’s) dastardly acts of sniping at its two soldiers on 3 January and 17 January and further unprovoked firing and shelling targeting a number of Indian villages, innocent civilians and their properties. The BSF conveyed strong protest with message that such provocative acts are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the border guarding force said in a statement.
The meeting was the first between the two sides since “heavy shelling and firing was experienced on the IB during the last week”. The 30-minute meeting held at noon saw a five-member BSF team led by BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) PS Dhiman sitting across a 10-member Pakistan Rangers team that was headed by Brigadier Amjad Hussain of Pakistan Rangers, sector commander of the Chenab (Sialkot) sector.
A similar request by the Indian side was “not responded to” by Pakistani Rangers a few days back, official sources said. The BSF Director General (DG), who recently toured the area, had said that the situation along the IB here was “very tense” and his men were on a high alert. The last such meeting of sector commanders of the two sides was held on 29 September last year.
(With PTI inputs)