BSF holds flag meeting with Pak Rangers in Samba amid firing

JAMMU : In the backdrop of the night-long firing by Pakistan Rangers targeting civilians areas and BoPs, BSF troops today held commandant-level flag-meeting with Rangers along International Border (IB) in Samba sector, impressing upon each other to respect the ceasefire.
“BSF and Pak Rangers held a flag-meeting in Ramgarh sector of Samba district today,” a police officer said.
The commandant-level flag meeting was held at zero-line between Ballard Post of India and Imran Post of Pakistan this afternoon, he said, adding the Indian side was represented by Commandant of 126 Battalion, Hari Singh.
As per reports, two sides are reported to have impressed each other to respect ceasefire along Indo-Pak border.
Barely seven hours after the commandant-level flag meeting to resume derailed talks and prepare ground for sector commander-level flag meeting, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire “again” and resorted to firing on forward Border Out Posts (BoPs) and civilian areas along International Border (IB) in Akhnoor sector.
“There was firing by Pak Rangers on BoPs and civilian areas in Devora forward belt in Pargwal sub-sector of Akhnoor teshil around 2315 hours last night and it continued till 0430 hours today,” police said.
This is the second commandant-level flag meeting in series of meetings scheduled in various affected sectors ahead of formal sector commander (DIG-Brigadier) level meeting to defuse the tension and bring much needed peace on two sides of IB.
India and Pakistan yesterday held a commandant-level flag meeting here to resume the derailed talks following heaviest shelling and firing along IB since 1971 war in Jammu sector, as Pak requested a sector commander level flag meeting to defuse the situation on the border and bring peace.
There have been over ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control in recent months. (AGENCIES)