Pak-India coast guards meet to discuss security

Indian Coast Guard officials met their Pakistani counterparts here to discuss matters related to fishermen and maritime security, authorities said today.
The two-day Coast Guards' meeting held on July 13-14 is part of a mechanism which is in place for last over 10 years, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said.
The ICG delegation was led by Director General Rajendra Singh and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) delegation was led by Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar.
"In these meetings issues relating to fishermen, their conduct, their violations and the issues relating to maritime security are discussed so that there are minimum violations from both sides," Zakaria said.

He said a special mechanism was evolved to deal with fishermen issue during the Ufa meeting where measures to resolve this issue were discussed.
A statement issued in New Delhi said the two delegations discussed operational issues relating to safeguarding of respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), exchanging of information about pollution incidents affecting the EEZ of the two countries, facilitation of maritime search and rescue operations in accordance with national laws and regulations.

They also discussed humane treatment and early release of fishermen apprehended by both sides as well as early repatriation of their boats, the statement said.
The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard also paid a courtesy call on Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, the Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy.

The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard extended an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart to visit India for the next meeting which will be held in 2017.