Joint Press Statement on Bi-Annual talks-2015 between Director Generals of BSF and Pakistan Rangers held at New Delhi from 9th to 12th Sept 2015

During the Home Secretary Level Talks held at Islamabad, Pakistan in May 1989, in it was decided that officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers would hold Bi-Annual talks and review the implementation of the agreed norms of cooperation between the two Border Guarding Forces. It was envisaged that the top leadership of both the Border Guarding Forces will meet periodically and discuss issues of relevance to both the forces. Issues requiring coordinated efforts like dealing with Drug menace, smuggling, simultaneous coordinated patrolling, timely exchange of information etc were to form the core of discussions.

The Pakistan Rangers are on a 4 day visit to India from 9th to 12th Sept 2015. Formal talks between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers this year began on 10th September at BSF head quarters, New Delhi. Major General Umar Farooq Burki, Director General, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) led a 16 members Pakistani delegation to India. The 23 members’ Indian delegation was led by Shri D K Pathak, IPS, DG BSF. Both the delegations also had 2 representatives from respective home & foreign ministries along with officers from narcotics control & survey department.

The talks were held in a constructive atmosphere. The need for cooperation to maintain the sanctity of the borders was stressed upon. The meeting took up specific issues of concern. Incidents of firing at the borders, smuggling of narcotics, infiltration attempts and defence construction activities were discussed. The issue of inadvertent crossing over by border population and on how to facilitate their return on both the sides was also discussed. The security of the border population being a primary concern of the both sides, it was felt that utmost caution and care would be taken to deal with the civilians. The need for confidence building measures including timely exchange of information, at the field level and mobile communication, simultaneous coordinated patrolling, and sporting events etc. were also discussed.

The Joint Record of Discussion charting a future route map of cooperation between the two Border Guarding Forces was signed earlier in the day today at 1100 hrs on September 12, 2015. It was mutually agreed to hold the next talks in the first half of 2016 in Pakistan. The talks ended on a optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavor to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders.

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KSD/VB/PK