Attari:
Notwithstanding the frequent infiltration bids, including the killing of two Pakistani intruders two days back, Pakistan on Sunday claimed that there were no attempts to sneak into India from its side of the border.
"Our borders are effectively protected and well guarded. Even the barbed fencing on Indian side is there which makes infiltration difficult. In such circumstances one can imagine how anyone can enter Indian territory from Pakistan side," Pakistani Rangers Director General, Major Gen Muhammad Yaqub Khan here told reporters.
He was asked about the recent infiltration bids from Pakistani side and the smuggling of narcotics and fake currency, issues, which will figure in the bi-annual meeting with their Indian counterparts the BSF that began in Amritsar on Sunday.
Khan is leading the 15-member delegation to the highest-level border meeting between BSF and Pakistan Rangers, BSF DIG Jagir Singh Sran said.
Two Pak intruders were killed two days back at Indo-Pak border village Naushera Dhalla near Attari border when they entered Indian territory with fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 65 lakh.
Khan said "both the forces are well disciplined and carry out the meetings in congenial atmosphere to discuss sensitive issues like illegal border crossing, infiltration acts including smuggling on both sides, firing instances that occurred recently at various places on border besides construction on international border."
Khan hoped that during the meeting they would be able to find suitable solutions of each others' problems being faced on the International Border.
Asked out recent incidents of firing of rockets into Indian territory in Amritsar district from the Pakistani side, Khan said, "we have verified the BSF claim that some rockets
were fired to Indian side from Pakistan but nothing concrete was traced."
"However, at the same time we lodged strong protest with BSF when they fired at the pickets of Pakistan Rangers."
The Indian delegation is headed by Director General (West) Border Security Force PPS Sidhu and includes BSF Inspectors General from Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat Frontiers and BSF headquarters at New Delhi, besides representatives from Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India and PWD.
"During this meeting, matters pertaining to defence constructions, firing incidents, border problems and crimes like drug trafficking, infiltration, smuggling of arms and ammunition, inadvertent border crossings and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed for effecting border management," Sran said.
The Pakistani delegation will leave for home on March 31. It is also scheduled to visit New Delhi, Ajmer and Agra.