BSF-BDR talks progressing on positive note

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) India and Bangladesh seem to be moving towards easing the tension along their borders to a "greater extent" as they completed two days of talks on a "positive note" on the vexed issue.

The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) top officials began the four-day talks yesterday. While the Indian side was led by BSF Chief A K Mitra, the Bangladesh side was headed by his counterpart Shakeel Ahmed.

''The two days of talks have been cordial and lacking the usual bitterness,'' BSF sources said here today.

The talks would conclude on Sunday.

There has been tension on the Indo-Bangladesh border with the forces of both the countries often indulging in skirmishes.

''The mood in the talks so far is a clear signal that there is going to be a success in bringing down the differences on border disputes,'' sources added.

In fact, the four-day exercise is the bi-annual Director General-level meeting between the border agencies of India and its neighbour.

However, such a meeting did not take place during the past one-and-a-half years.

Indian side is hopeful that some positive outcome may emerge at the end of the ongoing exercise.

Sources said the Indian side raised issues like infiltration, narcotics, currency and arms smuggling.

They also sought support to contain insurgent groups of North-Eastern states using Bangladesh as their base.

UNI