20 June 2004	Sunday	01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, June 19: An eight-member delegation led by Indian Border Security Force Deputy Inspector-General A.K.Surollia held a meeting with Pakistan Rangers officials here on Saturday.

The meeting was held at the joint check post on Wagah on the Pakistan side and it discussed various issues on border security including checking of narcotics smuggling, coordination, patrolling and exchange of prisoners who inadvertently cross the border.

Pakistan Rangers were led by Deputy Director General Brig Sakhi Marjan. This was the first deputy director general level meeting in three years.

Later, DIG Surollia told newsmen that his team had come to discuss border issues like prevention of smuggling, simultaneous patrolling and inadvertent border crossing.

He said the change of government would not affect the peace process with Pakistan. "There is no change in our policy and we will continue to travel on the road to peace," he added.

Mr Surollia said the process of exchange of prisoners who inadvertently cross the border was going on between the two countries. India had handed over eight such prisoners to Pakistan during the past three months. Another two children were handed over on Friday, he said.

Brig Marjan said the director general level meeting of the border security forces was held on March 27 last and it took some good decisions. "Today's meeting is a step forward towards the improvement of relations between the two countries."

He said coordination between the two border security forces was increasing. Joint patrolling of the border and exchange of prisoners would also further the good relations, he concluded.