India lodges protests with Pakistan for bunder construction

NEW DELHI: India has lodged protests with Pakistani authorities for carrying out construction of bunkers and towers along its border region, the government told the Rajya Sabha today.

In written reply on construction activities carried out by Pakistan in border areas, Defence Minister A K Antony said, the "government is aware through intelligence inputs that Pakistan has constructed and carried out repairs of bunkers, morchas and towers."

He furnished details of the construction and repair activities carried out by Pakistan along the border from 2004 to 2011.

While 886 bunkers were constructed by it in the border areas, the Pakistani Rangers built 261 morchas and erected 398 towers in the last seven years. It also constructed 143 Border Out Posts (BOPs).

"Protests have been lodged with Pakistan Rangers and Flag Meetings of Field Commanders are held in all cases. The matter is also taken up by Border Security Force ( BSF) with Pakistani Rangers during scheduled meeting at various levels," Antony said.

In the reply to questions, the Defence Minister said that troops were provided surveillance and technical intelligence from these areas.

"Adequate troops are suitably supplemented by appropriate surveillance and technical intelligence resources to ensure sanctity of the border," he said.