ISLAMABAD, May 6: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over fencing of the Working Boundary and the Line of Control and also apprised the UN about the matter.

In a written response to a question about the extent of the area on which India had erected the fence and the steps taken by the government to stop it, the Senate was informed on Thursday by Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri that the Indian action had violated Pakistan-India bilateral agreements and UN resolutions.

"Pakistan has also made a strong demarche to the government of India," the foreign minister said. According to the information placed before the Upper House, India has already fenced over 125 kilometres of the Working Boundary and 130 kilometres of the Line of Control.

The response from the foreign minister said Indian cabinet ministers and the military commanders had been claiming that the bulk of the fencing had already been completed.

Mr Kasuri said the Indian Minister of State for Defence, Chamanlal Gupta, claimed on Jan 9, 2004, that "nearly 250 kilometres of the 550-kilometre-long Line of Control has already been fenced and the rest is likely to be completed in three months."

The Senate was told that another report quoted the Indian Army Chief Gen NC Vij while addressing the Army Day Parade on Jan 15, 2004, as saying that fencing of the 590 kilometres stretch of the Line of Control would be completed by May.

"Clearly the fencing is in violation of the provisions of UN resolutions and bilateral agreements, including the Karachi Agreement of July 27, 1949, and the Simla Agreement of July 2, 1972," Mr Kasuri said.