Islamabad, Dec 30 – Pakistan and India’s security officials have decided to take strict action against cross-border smuggling and to maintain peace on the border, Iran’s IRNA reported officials as saying on Saturday.
Senior officials of Pakistani paramilitary Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) concluded their five-day bi-annual meeting in Lahore and agreed on “zero tolerance for smuggling” and to take strict action against the smugglers as per existing laws of the two states.
According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, officials also agreed that inadvertent crossers would be returned immediately to their respective countries.
“Consensus was developed on matters like stoppage of illegal construction, and maintenance of boundary pillars,” the statement said.
The officials decided that regular meeting between the two border guarding forces at all levels of command will be held to ensure maintenance of peace and tranquility along the Working Boundary and the International Border.
According to IRNA, Pakistan views the border region around Sialkot in Punjab as the Working Boundary as it runs between the end of the international border between Pakistan and India from southern Sindh province to Punjab and the beginning of the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.
A consensus was also developed to utilise available communication channels more effectively to control violation at the zero line, the statement said, adding that the security officials reiterated their commitment to continue efforts for ensuring, peace and tranquility on the Working Boundary and International Border.
The 20 member delegation of Pakistan Rangers was headed by Director General/Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Major General Khan Tahir Javed Khan, whereas the 13 member Indian delegation was headed by Director General BSF India, Shri Subhash Joshi.
The next meeting of the Director Generals will be held in New Delhi next year, the joint statement said.
– Bernama
