BSF-Pakistan Rangers hold border talks in Lahore

The four-day Director General-level talks between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers concluded in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday with an agreement on "strengthening measures" to coordinate border patrolling and "address each other's concerns in a time bound manner".

The talks, led by BSF DG K.K. Sharma and Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) DG Major General Umar Farooq Burki from July 25-28, ended on an optimistic note with both sides agreeing on a constant endeavour to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders, a BSF official said here.

"The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and with a spirit of cooperation. It was agreed that since the last such meeting in Delhi in September 2015, there has been a greater adherence to ceasefire along the International border," the official said.

Sharma stressed the importance of vigilance against cross border infiltration to prevent terrorist activities and check smuggling in narcotics.

"Both sides discussed ways to strengthen measures to coordinate border patrolling on their respective sides of the border and address each other's concerns in a time bound manner," the official said.

The joint record of discussion charting a future route map of cooperation between the two border guarding forces was signed on Thursday.

The BSF chief invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit India for the next round of the talks.

The DG-level talks are a bi-annual affair but many a time these meetings have not taken place due to strained relations.

--IANS

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