India, Pakistan Conclude Maritime Security Discussions
Dated 10/8/2007
Printer Friendly
Subscribe
The two-day high level discussions between Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency concluded here today. The Indian side was led by Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral R F Contractor and the Pakistani side by the Director General of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Rear Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar.
The discussions encompassed issues pertaining to violation of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by fishermen and procedures for their repatriation alongwith their boats, pollution incidents and response, maritime search and rescue, natural disasters and exchange of information regarding smuggling and illicit trafficking.
Both sides confirmed that the regular communication on the hotline had brought down the number of apprehension of fishermen during the last nine months. Various modalities of dealing with the violations of EEZ were discussed. Both the sides reaffirmed their commitment to provide help to mariners in distress and carry out coordinated Search & Rescue Operations. The delegations also evinced interest in information sharing on matters of mutual importance.
The number of fishermen and boats in custody on either side as well as the modalities of releasing those whose identities have been established were also discussed.
The Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 03 Oct 2005. Under this MoU, a hotline communication link between the two Director Generals was established on 14 Nov 06. The MoU stipulates that the heads of the two organisations meet once a year alternately in India or in Pakistan to review the progress of the MoU.
