In what could bring great relief to thousands of people living close to Indo-Pak border, Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers have agreed to initiate protocols to cool down tempers at the international border.
Ceasefire violations in the past few months have not only killed dozens of people on both sides but also forced thousands of people living in hamlets, villages and mofussil towns to migrate to safer areas intermittently leaving their economy in a shambles.
The two border guarding forces that were exchanging unprecedented fire at the international border until recently will sign a joint statement to stop ceasefire violations through enhanced communication via multiple modes at all many levels along to maintain peace, sources said.
Adding political weight to India's commitment, Union home minister, Rajnath Singh told Pakistan Rangers that India will not be the aggressor and will not fire the first bullet.
"Why we both fire at each other -- why can't we both respect our uniform when our ultimate objective is peace at the border," said Singh addressing officials of both the forces.
"India has more Muslim population than Pakistan. India can be called as more Islamic than Pakistan," he said. The home minister noted that India is home to all the 72 'firkas' (sects) of Muslims, which no other country has.
Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki, the head of Pakistan Rangers' delegation, who is here for talks with director general of Border Security Force D K Pathak, responded, "Your country is very big and vast. It is a great nation. We also want to have very good relations with India."
The two sides have decided to implement Pre-Fire protocol in the wake of tension at border for which commandant-level meeting would be the first step, followed by a DIG-level meeting.
To bring down cases of firing, the two forces are expected to agree on modality that, if necessary, they would use illumination bombs and rubber bullets before resorting to firing.
Agreeing that the meeting reflected warmth and understanding to understand each other, Pakistani sources said, both sides showed willingness to amicably resolve minor issues at local level.
Refuting BSF allegations of illegal border crossing, Pakistan Rangers said that the BSF is maintaining impregnable border control through fence, light, gates and other surveillance means etc, which minimises any chance of crossing through fence.
"Yet, both sides agreed to work out some additional methods to further strengthen border control," sources said.
BSF agreed to share information about cartels involved behind cross border smuggling activities to help Pakistan Rangers in taking necessary actions.
Pakistani sources said, their force has asked India to stop any new construction of defence structures along the western border as it is against the existing agreed norms to which BSF agreed to refer the issue to government.
Pakistan Rangers registered strong objection to the killing of rangers soldiers during flag meeting to which BSF insisted to forget the past and move forward while assuring non repetition of such happenings and also agreed to conduct joint investigation in case of serious incidents happening along international border, as exists in respective areas, in future, Pakistani sources added.
—With PTI inputs
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