BSF won't fire first bullet, Indian home minister tells Pakistan Rangers

NEW DELHI: Indian forces will not fire the first bullet along the border, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told a visiting delegation of Pakistan Rangers officials in New Delhi on Friday.

Talks between the Pakistani delegation and officials of the Indian Border Security Force to discuss ways of reducing tension along the border have been extended for another day.

The visiting 16-member led by DG Rangers Punjab Major-General Umar Farooq Burki met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed several bilateral issues as well as the issue of unprovoked firing at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.

"We have to be united in controlling terrorism," Indian media quoted Singh as saying.

According to reports, the talks have been extended in order to devise new strategies to put an end to incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.

Quoting top government sources, a report in an Indian newspaper said that both sides have agreed to maintain peace at the Line of Control and Working Boundary. Media reports further said that a new strategy and protocols will be discussed and finalised today.

The talks – one of the measures agreed upon during a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Ufa – have gained special significance after the National Security Adviser-level talks could not take place last month.

The talks will continue until Saturday.