Step up vigil to stop infiltration, BSF tells Pakistan Rangers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 28

India asked Pakistan to improve its vigil against cross-border infiltration to prevent terrorist activities and check smuggling of narcotics at the biannual meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers that ended in Lahore today.

The two sides also 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 Joint Record of Discussion charting a future road map of cooperation between the two border guarding forces was signed earlier in the day. DG BSF invited DG Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) to visit India for the next round of the biannual talks,” the BSF said in a statement.

The talks ended on an “optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavour to maintain peaceful and tranquil borders,” said the statement.

The biannual meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers was held from July 25 to 28 in Lahore. The BSF delegation was led by its Director General KK Sharma and the Pakistan delegation was led by Director General, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Major General Umar Farooq Burki.

“DG, BSF, stressed on the importance of vigilance against cross-border infiltration to prevent terrorist activities and to check narcotics smuggling,” reads the statement.

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