BSF, Pak Rangers vow to maintain peace at border

Chamliyal Border (J&K), Jun 23: Border guarding forces of India and Pakistan today vowed to maintain peace and tranquility at the Indo-Pak border in a meeting held here.

The decision was taken at the meeting held between Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers at the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district.

"On this auspicious occasion of Chamliyal Mela, a Sector Commander-level meeting was organised between both border guarding Forces at zero line today," DIG (G) BSF of Jammu Frontier Dharmendra Pareek said. "During the meeting both sides assured each other to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area.

The meeting was concluded in a very cordial atmosphere", he said. Pakistan Rangers visited the Indian side today for the annual fair of saint Dilip Singh Manhas popularly known as Baba Chamliyal. The fair was celebrated with fervor and joviality at BOP Chamliyal in Ramgarh Sector of Samba.

The Pakistan delegation, consisting of 8 officers of Pak Rangers and 7 officials of civil administration led by sector commander Brigadier Wasim Jaffar Bhatti, participated in the meeting, Pareek said. The DIG said that the Indian delegation consisted of 8 BSF officers and 8 civil administration officials with eminent citizens of area.

It was led by B S Kasana, DIG BSF SHQ Jammu, IAS officer Sheetal Nanda, Samba District Magistrate and Ashkur Ahmed Wani, IPS DIG Jammu Kathua Range. The Pakistan delegation was received at Zero line by BSF Commandant in force tradition and the sector commander was presented a guard of honour.

During the meeting, pleasantries and greetings were exchanged by both side's delegates and thereafter mementos were presented to all members of delegation to each other from both sides, he said.

The sector commander of Pakistan Rangers handed over a 'Chaddar' to B S Kasana as a customary gesture and in return BSF officials along with other officers handed over 'shakkar and sharbat' to the rangers. The fair was well attended by BSF, civil and police officials and thousands of devotees paid obeisance.

Large number of people of Pakistan have shown their enthusiastic presence across the zero line to have a glimpse of the 'Baba'. As intimated by Pakistan Rangers, equal number of devotees are also present and eagerly waiting in their side of village to celebrate on reaching of 'Prasad' (shakkar and sharbat).

PTI