India, Pakistan call for truce in first flag meeting in five months

India and Pakistan decided to re-establish communication between them so as to maintain peace on the border. (Source: Express Archive)

Nearly five months after escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan had led to migration of people from their native villages along the international border to safer places in Jammu Kashmir, both the countries on Wednesday decided to re-establish communication between them so as to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border between them.

The decision, according to official sources, came at a sector level flag meeting held between BSF and Pakistan Rangers on the international border near Octroi border out post (BOP) this afternoon. The meeting, which followed a request from Pakistan side, continued from 2 pm to 4.10 pm, sources said, adding that while the Indian side was represented S Kasana, the Rangers were led by Brigadier Wasim Jafar Bhatti.

Significantly, it was the first meeting between two sides after heavy shelling from across the border had killed a number of civilians, besides injuries and wide spread damage to residential houses on the Indian side last year.

Commanders of both the border guarding forces, inter alia, discussed the issue of repeated incidents of firing by other side and impressed upon bringing the much needed peace on the border, sources said. Both sides decided to “re-energize the existing mechanisms of communication between the forces and to hold meetings and contacts at all levels, whenever required, for maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border.”

The meeting was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. Normal activities including farming will now resume on the border, a BSF official said.

Source:: Indian Express