LAHORE, July 19: Despite a bad patch in relations between their governments since Mumbai train bomb blasts on July 11, Indian and Pakistani officials met on Wednesday to discuss ways to beef up border security and combat smuggling.

The talks between the border security officials at the Wagah border checkpost came days after India postponed a meeting of foreign secretaries due this week in New Delhi to review progress in a peace process begun over two years ago.

“We will continue with these talks and these will be held as routine,” A.K. Jain, deputy inspector-general of India’s Border Security Force, told reporters. The two sides discussed issues relating to illegal border crossings, smuggling as well as a proposal on joint border patrols.—Reuters