Srinagar: As the guns fell silent after a series of skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Kashmir border, the local commanders of Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers (PR) on Wednesday held a flag meeting in Jammu-Sialkot area with a view to defuse tensions.
The meeting took place a day after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries spoke on hotline to discuss the war like situation prevailing along the International Border (called working boundary in Pakistan) in Jammu-Sialkot areas.
Official sources in Jammu said the flag meeting, held in the Pargwal area of Akhnoor sector near Jammu for the first time since multiple ceasefire violations in past fortnight, lasted for 35 minutes. Both sides registered their protest over the recent incidents of firing at the border, accusing each other of deliberately violating the November 2003 ceasefire agreement by repeatedly resorting to unprovoked firings and shelling and each claiming that it only retaliated to such actions initiated by the other side.
Official sources said the Pakistani side sought Sector Commander Level flag meeting with India during Wednesday’s commandant level meeting. BSF officials at the meeting were led by Commandant 33 Battalion B. K. Singh, while Commandant M. Waqar of 19 Desert led the Pakistani side. The sources said the meeting was held “in a very cordial atmosphere” and that both the sides discussed restoration of peace and other issues.
An informal meeting was also held between India and Pakistan of Company Commander level at Ballard Post in Ramgarh sector of Samba district on Wednesday afternoon.
