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| Sunday, 28 March 2004 |
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Pakistani, Indian officials agree to curb border smuggling LAHORE, Pakistan, March 27 (AFP) Pakistani and Indian military officials signed an agreement Saturday aimed at curbing cross border smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal immigration, officials said. The agreement was reached during three days of talks in the eastern border city of Lahore between the Inspector General of India's Border Security Force (BSF), J.S. Gill, and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Hussain Mehdi of the Pakistan Rangers. "It was agreed that measures being taken to stop smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal immigration will be strengthened," General Mehdi told reporters after the signing of the agreement. Both sides also agreed to exercise restraint and leniency in their treatment of people who inadvertently crossed the border, he said. The meeting was part of an ongoing dialogue between the two countries following an agreement reached between Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and India's prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a South Asian summit in Islamabad in January. Mehdi said as a goodwill gesture the Pakistani authorities would return six Indian villagers who were arrested after they strayed into Pakistani territory. Gill said India would reciprocate by allowing the return of 31 Pakistanis being held in Indian jails on charges of border violations. |
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