India, Bangladesh to hold border talks in Dhaka next week

India will hold a high-level border dialogue with Bangladesh next week in Dhaka in the backdrop of the recent handing over of top insurgents by the neighbouring country and its efforts to end cattle smuggling across the over 4,000-km frontier the two neighbours share.

A 23-member Indian delegation led by Border Security Force (BSF) Director General D K Pathak will travel to the Bangladeshi capital for the six-day bi-annual DG-level talks with their counterparts — the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and senior officials of their home department.

The meeting is scheduled between December 22 and December 27. Sources said the meeting is being held at a “good time” when the ties between the two sides are at their best after Bangladesh recently handed over long-time fugitive and top ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India.

The Indian border delegation, including officials from the Union Home Ministry and other border enforcement agencies, is expected to discuss measures to further enhance security along the border and brief the BGB about measures put in place to completely stop instances of cattle smuggling and other illegal substances across the border.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during BSF’s 50th Raising Day on December 1 here, had urged the border guarding force to ensure a total clampdown on cross-border animal smuggling along this 4,096-km-long porous and difficult terrain dotted by hilly and riverine areas.

The BGB, sources said, is expected to raise the issue of bringing about a complete halt on border killing incidents and suggest enforcement of some strict security protocols by both the sides to achieve this goal.