LAHORE: Pakistan Rangers and India Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday agreed to stop border violations along the Line of Control (LoC), check smuggling and ensure expeditious repatriation of those who inadvertently cross borders.

Pakistan Rangers Director General Major General Umar Farooq Burki returned via Wagha after a three-day bi-annual meeting with his Indian counterpart. These talks are a regular feature and are held alternately in Pakistan and India.

According to an earlier report by Dawn, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said that the dialogue would help reduce tensions along the LoC.

The Pakistan Rangers spokesperson told APP that both sides also agreed to strengthen the dialogue process to resolve border management at the bilateral level, and stressed the need to foster mutual confidence between the two border-guarding forces.

The spokesman said talks were held in a congenial atmosphere, adding that consensus was reached to remain engaged and encourage local commanders, including those at the junior level, to mutually resolve issues related to border management affairs.

Ceasefire violations along the Working Boundary were discussed at length and it was agreed that all necessary measures will be ensured to avoid such incidents in the future to save the lives of innocent civilians.

Both sides also agreed to mutually devise better and effective anti-smuggling measures along the border.

Dilating upon the issue of inadvertent border crossers, both sides assured their expeditious repatriation.

DG Rangers thanked his Indian counterpart for their hospitality and warmth extended during their stay in India.

Earlier, it was reported by Dawn that 26 Pakistanis had been killed in over 200 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary over the past three months.

The next bi-annual meeting will be held in 2016 in Pakistan.