BSF DIG, Jammu sector, PS Dhiman and Chenab Rangers Sector Commander Brig Amjad Hussain during a flag meeting in Suchetgarh on Thursday. Tribune photo

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 25

To ease the tension along the International Border, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers today held a sector commander-level flag meeting at the octroi post of the Suchetgarh sector in Jammu.During the half-an-hour meeting, held at the request of Pakistan Rangers, the BSF raised the issue of recent unprovoked ceasefire violations by Rangers which killed seven civilians and two BSF personnel.Giving details, a BSF spokesperson said, “The BSF strongly objected to dastardly sniper attacks on two BSF men on January 3 and January 17. The unprovoked firing and shelling, targeting a number of villages, innocent civilian and properties, was also raised. The BSF registered a strong protest with a message that such provocative acts are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”This was the first flag meeting between the BSF and Rangers this year. Last time, both the forces had met on September 29, 2017, over the issue of maintaining the sanctity of the ceasefire.The BSF delegation, comprising five officers, was led by DIG, BSF, Jammu sector, PS Dhiman. The Pakistani team of 10 officers was led by Sector Commander, Chenab Rangers, Sialkot, Brigadier Amjad Hussain. Several wing commanders were also part of the Pakistani delegation.“The meeting is the first sector commander-level meeting between the two border forces since heavy shelling and firing erupted along the International Border last week to which the BSF gave a calibrated reply. During the firing and shelling, the BSF successfully foiled a number of infiltration attempts from Pakistani soil while killing one intruder on January 4 in the Arnia sector,” the BSF spokesperson added.The recent skirmishes along the border started on the January 17-18 intervening night and lasted up to January 22. Two BSF soldiers and seven civilians died in Pakistani firing. During this period, four soldiers also died in Pakistani firing and shelling along the Line of Control.Since January 22 morning, the International Border has been witnessing calm. Today’s flag meeting is expected to ensure peace on the border