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Rediff.com  » News » India, Pakistan to jointly patrol Punjab border

India, Pakistan to jointly patrol Punjab border

Source: PTI
December 20, 2003 23:03 IST
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Officers of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers on Saturday met and decided to jointly patrol the Punjab frontier and hand over civilians who inadvertently cross into each other's country.

They also agreed to stop infiltration and illegitimate border crossings by cooperating with each other, the head of the Indian delegation, Commandant Darbara Singh, said.

Colonel Sher Jaman Khan led the Pakistani side.

The eight-member BSF delegation crossed into Pakistan via the Wagah border.

It was also decided that if any tension arose during patrolling, it would be discussed and sorted out in a systematic way during routine meetings to be held from time to time, Singh added.

This was the first commandant-level meeting following the terrorist attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.

Singh said visa problems faced by the people of both nations were discussed.

It was decided that the BSF would convey such problems to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Pakistan Rangers also agreed to convey these to their government, he added.

Singh said in the next meeting, a strategy would be laid out to stop infiltration.

After the meeting ended at 1630 IST, officers of the Pakistan Rangers came to the zero line to see off their Indian counterparts, Singh said.

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