Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: Notwithstanding series of firing incidents and ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army and Rangers aimed at infiltration of militants, Army and the Border Security Force (BSF), as a goodwill gesture, offered sweets to their counterparts on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border on the occasion of Eid festival.
“We have always been doing so (offering sweets and fruits) to Pakistan Rangers on Eid and other important days of Pakistan like Independence and Republic Days and will continue to do so. Eid is a festival celebrated on both the countries and, as a goodwill gesture, we offered sweets to the Rangers at Octroi Post on the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector’’, DIG BSF J S Oberoi told the Excelsior.
The BSF officers headed by Commandant GS Dhaliwal exchanged sweets and fruits with Wing Commander of the Rangers Qaiser Mehmood at Octroi Post this morning.
“The sweets exchange was held at the invitation of the BSF’’, Mr Oberoi said.
The BSF-Rangers meeting lasted about half an hour, official sources said, adding that there were no other talks excepting Eid greetings.
On the Line of Control (LoC) Colonel PDS Bal led the team of Poonch Brigade in exchanging sweets and fruits with Pakistan’s 655 Mujahid Regiment Colonel Javed Ahmad at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district.
Both sides were at the Zero Line for about 40 minutes exchanging pleasantries.
When asked by a reporter about firing and ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army, Col Javed Ahmad declined to take the question on the ground that on the pious occasion of Eid festival, he was not going to speak on firing.
It may be mentioned here that the BSF had twice lodged very strong protest with pictorial evidence with the Rangers on digging of tunnel about 540 meters deep inside the Indian territory followed by frequent incidents of firing and ceasefire violations including direct firing on civilians at Chechwal in Samba sector in which two civilians were injured. The BSF had lost one jawan in the firing at RS Pura sector while four others were injured in the firing.
The civilians at several places on the IB hadn’t been able to cultivate their land ahead of the border fencing, which they had been doing after the ceasefire agreement had come into force in November 2003, due to the fear of Pakistan firing.
On the LoC also, Pakistan had frequently been resorting to firing at Krishna Ghati, Mendhar, Poonch and Keri sectors in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Sources said the firing and ceasefire violations on the LoC were mostly aimed at pushing the infiltrators inside the Indian territory. However, the Pakistani attempts have been foiled as the militants hadn’t been allowed to sneak into this side from Poonch and Rajouri districts so far.
Sources said the Army and BSF didn’t talk firing or infiltration today but only exchanged sweets and fruits on the LoC and IB respectively. Significantly, during past four to five days, there had been no incidents of firing either on LoC or on IB.
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