Defuse tension

There are enough grounds to believe that the strains stem primarily from the continued Indian BSF efforts to erect fences within the No Man's Land and also the deaths of Bangladesh nationals in BSF firing. And, of course, the recent intrusion of the BSF inside our territory and the death of a BSF Assistant Commander, have compounded the matter. The general pattern of BSF activity at several points of the Indo-Bangladesh border, causes us concern.

It would not be out of place to ask as to why such incidents occurred in the first place? There are clear-cut guidelines that lay down the operational procedures for the two border forces to go by. Should there be any problem in implementing any of its proviso, the only way to overcome it is to sit down and thrash that out.

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Admittedly, the views of Bangladesh and India are not in accord on the limitation on fencing in the NML stipulated by the Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975. That has been the instrument guiding the border security forces of the two countries so long. Changes in the provisions if there need be can be effected through discussions by amicable means. If for so long the guidelines have proved fairly efficacious one wonders why that should now be the cause of friction that leads to deaths of innocents.

Since the two foreign ministers are likely to sit together and take the 'steam out of the present irritants through negotiation,' there is a need to avoid precipitate actions that are likely to hamper the environment of discourse. Neither precipitate action nor provocative statements will help matter simmer down.

In fact, we feel, that there must be more meetings, rather than only 'flag meetings' which are designed as a holding mechanism, between the commanders at all levels of the two border forces.