Wagah, March 27
Both India and Pakistan have agreed to release some prisoners who have been languishing in various jails of both countries on reciprocal basis. Such prisoners could not be repatriated despite completion of their sentence due to lack of their identification in the past.
While India will repatriate 31 Pak nationals, Pakistan may
release six Indian nationals. Agreement to this effect was reached during a joint meeting of BSF and Pakistani Rangers held on the Pakistan side.
The BSF and Pakistani Rangers have also decided in principal not to lodge any FIR against nationals of both countries for inadvertent crossing without proper verification.
Addressing a press conference, here today Mr G.S. Gill, Inspector General, Border Security Force, who headed a 13-member team, including five IGs, for the biannual meeting across the border, said regular simultaneous coordinated patrolling (SCP) on both sides of the 533 km Indo-Pak border with Punjab would be taken up by BSF and Pakistani Rangers. The biannual meeting was held after a gap of three years.
Both forces also decided to discuss current issues pertaining to both forces during the monthly flag meetings. They will also share information of smugglers and anti-social elements for creating permanent thaw in the region.
Significantly, the Pak Rangers also agreed to soften their aggressive postures during the Retreat ceremonies held on the Wagah and Hussainiwala posts.
Mr Gill said the BSF had no definite information about the hot air balloon sighted by a BSF jawan on the Punjab border and hence the issue was not taken up during the biannual meeting.
