BSF, Pakistan Rangers discuss ways to counter smuggling

LAHORE: The Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force today discussed ways to counter illegal border crossing and smuggling as part of bi-annual talks.

The issues figured during the second round of talks at Wagah. A 13-member BSF delegation led by Director General Subhash Joshi crossed over to Pakistan via Wagah yesterday for the talks that will continue till December 28.

"Today the two sides discussed airspace violations by helicopters and spy planes, elimination of illegal border crossing and smuggling in detail," a Pakistan Rangers spokesman told PTI after the talks.

Issues like inadvertent border crossing by civilians, killing of people at the border and illegal defence-specific constructions were also discussed, he said. Maj Gen Khan Tahir Javed Khan is leading the Pakistani side at the talks. A joint statement would be issued after the talks end, the spokesman said.