Border talks: India tells Pakistan its troops will not fire first shot

Amid the chill in India-Pakistan relations, the ongoing meeting between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers in New Delhi has kindled hope about reducing ceasefire violations that have stressed relations between the two estranged neighbours in the last few months. The DG-level border dialogue is the first high level meeting between the two countries since the National Security Advisors (NSA) meet was cancelled last month at the 11^th hour due to differences over scope of the meeting.

The talks between the BSF and Pakistan’s Rangers, that began September 10, have firmed up some proposals, including joint patrolling of the border, which should bring down border tensions. Mechanisms to deal with the issue of unprovoked firing at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary figured prominently in the discussions.

In what is seen as progress in the talks, the two sides are closing in on an agreement on coordinated patrolling of the international border from Gujarat to Punjab except the Jammu sector. The BSF and Pakistani Rangers are said to have reached an understanding on maintaining calm on the border in the Jammu sector which has witnessed the maximumceasefire violations and cross-border infiltration. The two sides have decided to extend the talks by a day to discuss and finalise new protocols and strategies that will put an end to ceasefire violations.

The Indian side is said to have suggested that, rather than debating and contesting about the past incidents, the two sides should work on a future strategy to make the border peaceful and safe for the troops and civilians alike. “The most significant takeaway of the talks has been that the two sides agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility on this border is the most important issue and this needs to be implemented on the ground,” according to government sources. The two sides are also said to have made progress on issues like having direct lines of communication from the levels of chiefs to commandants, maintenance of defence-related structures, clearing of foliage along the zero line to help in stopping infiltration. Fine-tuning arrangements for handing back innocent people who cross the border inadvertently were also discussed.

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