India, Pak. agree on truce in harvest season

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, MAY 6. The Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers have decided to stop cross-border firing during the ongoing wheat harvest season along both sides of the international border, especially in the Jammu sector. Both sides have also agreed to hold flag meetings of commandant-level officers in case of any controversy.

The decisions were taken after deliberations between the BSF delegation led by Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. A.S. Aulakh, and the Pakistan Rangers team headed by its Director General (Sindh), Maj. Gen. Abdul Qadir. The meeting carried on for the last four days in Jalandhar, the BSF territorial headquarters. The BSF IGs of Jammu and Rajasthan sectors and two from BSF headquarters in Delhi were part of the Indian team. The Pakistani team included Maj. Gen. Zara Azim, who is the Director General of the Pakistan Rangers (Lahore), and Maj. Gen. Abdul Kadeem Baloch from the headquarters.

Talking to presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Aulakh said both sides expressed concern over the loss of life and property along the border due the exchange of fire. Mr. Aulakh said there was no change in the attitude on the other side after the new military regime took over. Border and internal security arrangements would have to be strengthened to frustrate any attempt to foment trouble on this side of the border.

The Pakistan Rangers' team leader told presspersons at Attari in Amritsar district, before returning home, that the talks were successful.

Sources said that India rejected the Pakistani proposal for formulation of ground rules regarding construction and other activities along the border. India has been rejecting this demand since 1971 on the ground that Pakistan has been violating all norms time and again.

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