BSF, Pak Rangers to discuss narcotics smuggling

Attari, Mar 26 (UNI) The four-day biannual meeting the Border Security Force (BSF) and their counterparts, the Pakistan Rangers would deliberate on trans-border crime including illegal trafficking of narcotics, particularly heroin.

The meeting would evolve mutually agreeable procedures for effective and smooth management of the Indo-Pakistan border stretching from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to the Jammu sector.

The meeting commenced at Chandigarh today in which senior BSF officials of the Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu sectors are taking part, besides officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India and officers of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

However serious discussions on major issues would only commence tomorrow.

"High level meetings of the BSF-Pak Rangers are held on regular basis to build mutual trust and understanding, to dispassionately analyze different cross border problems and to ensure workable solution for ensuring peace and tranquility along India-Pakistan Border", Major General Mohmammad Haroon Aslam said while crossing over to India at the head of the 14-member Pakistani delegation through this road check post this morning.

The delegation was warmly received by Mohmammad Aquil, DIG BSF and other Indian officers.

Replying to queries of mediapersons, Mr Haroon Aslam informed that both the border guarding forces are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining peace on either side of boundary and ensuring safety and security of respective border population. These meetings between the two border guarding forces facilitates sorting of border related issues, he added.

In the scheduled meeting both sides will take stock of the prevailing situation on the Indo-Pak Border. Deliberations would be held on various issues afflicting the Indo-Pak border.

Discussions would also be held on the issue of illegal border crossing and the steps needed to check it, Major Gen Aslam said adding that focus would also be on the need to curb illegal trafficking of narcotics.

The issue of repair of defence structures in close proximity of the International Border would also be taken up, he added.

In reply to yet another query, Major Gen Haroon Aslam said that the talk on release of prisoners of war (POWs) of 1965 and 1971 wars are going on at Foreign Ministry level of both the countries and this issue is not discussed in such meetings.

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