Suchetgarh (J&K), December 2
The BSF and the Pakistani Rangers today failed to resolve the dispute that has arisen following the latter building a bundh in the Indian territory at Ballar, near the Basantar river, in Samba.

The two sides will meet again tomorrow at the disputed spot in a bid to resolve the issue. While Pakistan is claiming that the defence bundh has been constructed within their own territory, the BSF pointed out that the Rangers had removed the Indian border pillar from there and constructed a mud structure.

However, further work has been stopped by the Rangers following protest by the BSF that has recaptured the area, according to Mr P.K. Mishra, DIG of the Jammu sector.

Lieut-Col Ali led a team of the Pakistani Rangers to discuss the issue with the BSF near the pre-partition era octroi post. The meeting was held in the Pakistani territory.

Mr Ali, who is the sector commander (Sialkot) of the Rangers, did not divulge the details of the meeting to mediapersons. He said the situation on the borders had been “very peaceful” for the past one year after the ceasefire was announced.

He said there were some problems about the border, but he hoped these would be resolved.

The two sides decided to meet regularly so that problems, if any, could be resolved at their level.

This was the second flag meeting between the two sides here. Mr Ali is learnt to have said in the meeting that they do not recognise the international border between India and Pakistan and it was just a “working border”. However, Mr Mishra made it clear that it was the border.

Mr Mishra said taking advantage of the ceasefire, the Rangers had built the bundh in the area.

He said officials of the Revenue Department of Jammu and Kashmir and Sialkot would tally their records to settle the dispute and till then a status quo would be maintained.

He said efforts were also being made to settle other disputes that have arisen with the Pakistani Rangers claiming some land in the Pindi area of Ranbirsinghpura and Malabela near Chicken Neck.

Mr Mishra said seven border pillars were found missing in the Malabela area. Survey teams of both sides would meet to sort out the dispute, he added. He said as many as 40 border pillars on the border in the Jammu sector were missing.