KARACHI, April 21: Border conflicts between Pakistan and India have declined due to confidence-building measures (CBMs) taken by both countries recently. This was stated by Director-General Pakistan Rangers Maj-Gen Javed Zia at a ceremony held to welcome a 17-member delegation of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India at the Rangers Headquarters here on Thursday.

“These confidence-building measures have brought a great degree of normalcy at the borders,” said Maj-Gen Zia.

Border officials of the two countries meet twice a year and this time their meeting is being held on the Pakistani side with Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) as the host.

Maj-Gen Zia said it was a historic occasion because it was for the first time an Indian border security delegation had come to Karachi.

“We are hopeful that our meetings will take place in a very congenial, accommodative and fruitful manner,” he said.

The two sides would discuss illegal border crossings, narcotics control efforts, installation of searchlights on the border and border demarcation during their four-day talks, he said.

Drug smuggling was a common issue for both sides, he said, adding that the meeting on Friday would review measures to curb it in a significant way.

About release of fishermen, he said: “We would take up this issue in the meeting so that the miseries of the families of held fishermen could be lessened.”

Talking to journalists, leader of the Indian delegation, Inspector-General of the Border Security Force of Indian Punjab, G.S. Gill, expressed hope that the meeting would help resolve various issues.

Mr Gill said better ties were good for everyone along the border.—Agencies