India and Nepal agree to tighten border security

New Delhi: India and Nepal have agreed to further strengthen security mechanism along the 1,751-km long border which is seen as highly porous and often used by subversive elements to cross over into India or escape into Nepal after committing crime here. In addition, the two countries have also decided to further enhance its intelligence sharing mechanism particularly about the suspected ISI operatives said to be operating from the neighbouring country.

These security issues were discussed in detail during a meeting on Friday between senior officials of the Sashastra Seema Bal, which is mandated with guarding the Indo-Nepal border and the Armed Police Force, which is the frontier guarding force of Nepal.

The Nepalese delegation was headed by APF Inspector General Shailendra Khanal while the SSB team was led by its director general Rajni Kant Sharma. Officials claimed that the meeting primarily focused on increasing mutual co-operation and co-ordination between the two security forces with special focus on trans-border crimes, forward and backward linkages, and human trafficking to maintain. Sources said the two sides also discussed various aspects to enhance security apparatus in order to maintain proper sanctity and security of the international border.

Both India and Nepal agreed that security agencies from both countries should further enhance timely sharing of intelligence inputs to check terror and other criminal activities.

“There has been increased security co-operation between Indian and Nepal in recent times which has led to some successful operations also. But this needs to be enhanced further,’’ a senior official added.

The two security forces also decided to have regular co-ordination meets.