Let's talk about future: India tells Pakistan at border force talks

New Delhi, Sep 10: India on Thursday asked Pakistan to "talk about the future" as border security forces of both countries sat across the table for a meeting.

Highly-placed sources in the Border Security Force said India did most of the talking, and all issues including ceasefire violations and sniper firing targeting Indian soldiers were raised.

The talks concluded "cordially" and both sides agreed to take steps to start coordinated patrolling at the border, as well as to monitor ceasefire violations.

"India did most of the talking and Pakistan was receptive. The talks concluded in a cordial manner," an official told IANS.

"Pakistan mentioned some incidents of the past. We said we would not gain anything from the past. We said if you have 20 points, we have 40 points. Let's device a system so that this situation is controlled," the official said.

Sources said the major focus was to open more channels of communication, opening sector level communications and taking it to battalion and post level.

Pakistan, meanwhile, raised the issue of airspace violation.

India raised the issue of infiltration, and questioned how the Pakistan Rangers could not be aware of it.

Sources said the Rangers said they were unable to check infiltration.

"They said they don't have hi-tech infrastructure along the border like India," an official said.

The sources added that Pakistan did not raise the issue of involving a third party for monitoring truce violations.

According to reports, Pakistan had listed in its agenda a revived role for the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) for intervening in ceasefire violations.

IANS