LAHORE, Oct 13: The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has a limited role in release of Pakistani prisoners from Indian jails as different diplomatic channels are involved in the process.

These views were expressed by BSF’s Additional Director General Shri Utthan Kumar Bansal while talking to newsmen at Wagha border ahead of a three-day biannual meeting between the two border forces on Monday.

He said only the two governments could allow prisoners’ release through diplomatic channels.

Responding to a questioner, Mr Bansal said physical condition of Pakistani prisoners and some deaths in Indian jails had nothing to do with the BSF.

When asked about enhanced border fencing by India, he said it had been increased to help check illegal crossing and smuggling.

However, he denied reports of construction of defence bunkers near the border by Indian forces.

Deputy director general Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) Brig Shafaqat Nawaz, speaking on the occasion, said the two sides would discuss in detail all vital issues, hoping media would get some ‘good news’ at the end of meeting.

Earlier, Brig Nawaz received the BSF delegation led by Mr Bansal at Wagha border. The delegation was later welcomed at the Rangers Headquarters by Rangers’ Punjab Director General Maj Gen Muhammad Yaqoob.

The agenda of the meeting includes border management duties, incidents of unprovoked firing by BSF troops, trans-border smuggling, illegal border crossing, drug-trafficking, repatriation of inadvertent crossers as well as Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.