India, Pak border guards decide to stop mortar fire along IB

As part of efforts to bring peace on the border, India and Pakistan on Saturday decided to put a complete ban on firing of mortar shells along International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir which has claimed the lives of several civilians and damaged their houses.

The two sides also agreed to jointly resolve sensitive issues like ceasefire violations and cross-border infiltration through timely exchange of information, including via email and over <g data-gr-id="14">telephone</g>.

At the conclusion of the three-day DG-level talks between Border Security Force and Pak Rangers here, the two sides inked a 20-point joint record of discussion to follow in the future. BSF DG Devendra Kumar Pathak and Pak Rangers DG (Punjab) Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki signed the official record of talks this afternoon at the headquarters of BSF here after wrapping up their talks that took place almost after a break of two years as relations between the two countries came under strain due to a host of issues on the border. 

“The two sides have decided that they will not resort to mortar fire along IB in times of peace. At the same time, it was agreed that the two forces will not use heavy weapons and these sort of weaponry and ammunition will only be used as a last resort,” sources said. They said the two sides discussed that the images of civilians and border population flashing the shiny metal fins of fired mortar shells 

was a very tragic sight and hence this sort of firing or retaliation should be immediately put to an end.