BSF dominates talks with Pakistan Rangers, has its way on major points

NEW DELHI: India prevailed over Pakistan to not use the latter's pet terms 'working boundary' and 'ceasefire violations' in the joint record of discussion signed between Border Security Force ( BSF) and Pakistan Rangers on Saturday after two days of talks.

The Rangers wanted to use the term 'working boundary' which they denote for the International Border (IB) in Jammu region with India and also put down instances of firing by India across the IB as 'ceasefire violations', a senior government official has told ET. But the term ultimately used in the joint record is 'incidents of firing at the borders', as per a press statement released by the BSF and signed by both sides.

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"BSF DG DK Pathak told his Pakistani counterpart that neither side should create confusion by insisting on its own terminology and send out a wrong signal at the end of a remarkably cordial round of talks. The back-and-forth over the same delayed the signing of the joint statement by nearly two hours as the Pakistani side took it also to their embassy for checking it with their government. It was supposed to be signed by 9:30 am on Saturday and was ultimately signed after 11 am," a official said.

"BSF has dominated the battlefield so far and dominated the talks as well," a home ministry official told ET.

BSF DG DK Pathak also tactfully cornered Pakistan on the issue of intruders and the term 'infiltration attempts' made it to the joint statement. "India has told Pakistan that in future when we see suspicious movement on the border, we will fire an illumination round from a light pistol or a para bomb as a signal to the Rangers that we are opening fire on the infiltrating terrorists and not on the Rangers. Rangers have agreed on the mechanism which will be followed by a joint post-level meeting next morning. Rangers wanted a 'joint investigation' of all such incidents, the BSF prevailed to use the term 'joint verification'," an official said.

Both sides have shared mobile numbers and email IDs of senior officers of either side for faster communication to avoid confusion on firing incidents.

"In the past, a protest note on paper was sent which the Pakistan side did not invariably come to receive. The whole process took 15-20 days making the entire purpose," an official said

1 BSF jawan killed in mortar shelling

One BSF officer was killed when Pakistani Rangers resort to mortar shelling in Rajouri district of J&K on Sunday, said BSF sources. Rangers also opened fire in Samba district, a day after BSF and Pakistan rangers agreed to uphold the sanctity of ceasefire during the DG level talks.