Indo-Pak talks: Pak accuses India of ceasefire violation

New Delhi, Aug 27: In an apparent case of pot calling kettle black,

Rangers today questioned their border-guarding counterpart BSF as to why they were "blatantly firing on Pakistani positions" defying ceasefire protocol.

At a commandant-level flag meeting between BSF and Rangers at Nikowal border outpost along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal sub-sector of Akhnoor in Jammu district, Indian officials were surprised when the opposite side raised the issue, sources said. Pakistan Rangers also sent an officer for the meeting from a sector that is unaffected by the recent ceasefire violations, they said.

"Our officers were surprised that there were no Ranger officials from the sector opposite R S Pora where the maximum ceasefire violations are taking place. Those who came questioned BSF as to why were they were firing indiscriminately defying ceasefire protocol," a top source here said. According to BSF, firing by Pakistani forces along International Border (IB) in the past 45 days was possibly the "heaviest" since the 1971 war. There have been 95 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control and it has also breached the ceasefire pact 25 times on the International Border in recent months.

Rangers demanded a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) level flag meeting to be scheduled in the next few days. "So, in totality, there was no positive movement that could have ended the present situation of ceasefire violations that has emerged from Pakistan's side over the last few days.

The meeting achieved no result," the source said. Today's border commanders meeting, held after repeated requests made in this regard by India, was led by Commandant of BSF's 33rd battalion S K Singh and Wing Commander of 19 Desert Rangers Mohammad Waqar.

Both sides had three more officers on each side. BSF IG (Jammu sector) R K Sharma told reporters on the ground that the flag meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and it was decided to continue talks in future.

PTI