Nepal, India agree on smart technology to strengthen border security
Nepal and India have agreed to strengthen border security, adopt technology-friendly border management and deepen bilateral cooperation, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The decisions were taken at the 10th coordination meeting of Nepal's Armed Police Force and India's Sashastra Seema Bal, which concluded in Kathmandu on Friday.
The meeting began at the Armed Police Force headquarters on Wednesday. It was led by Nepal Armed Police Force Inspector General Narayan Dutta Paudel and Sashastra Seema Bal Director General Sanjaya Singhal. Senior officials from both countries attended the talks.
After reviewing progress on decisions taken at the ninth meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to controlling illegal activities along the border and tackling cross-border crime. They agreed to improve cooperation and ensure the prompt exchange of information at the strategic, operational and working levels.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen institutional cooperation to address threats to bilateral security and social order arising from the misuse of social media and the spread of misleading information, according to a statement issued by Nepal's Armed Police Force.
They decided to continue joint efforts to stop illegal farming, encroachment and the construction of unauthorised structures in the border region to ensure effective management of the no-man's-land.
Both sides agreed to improve field-level coordination for the regular maintenance, preservation and reconstruction of border pillars, in line with decisions taken by the Boundary Working Group and the Survey Officials Committee.
The two countries noted that the timely exchange of information had helped control cross-border criminal networks, smuggling, human trafficking, fake currency and narcotics, as well as prevent the unauthorised movement of third-country nationals, the statement said.
They agreed to strengthen document verification procedures to prevent the illegal movement of third-country nationals, conduct coordinated patrols in the no-man's-land and promptly share information about the movement of suspicious people.
The meeting also discussed modernising traditional border security systems through technology-friendly, smart border management. The proposed measures included installing CCTV cameras to monitor the no-man's-land, deploying luggage scanners and walk-through metal detectors at major border entry points, and expanding the use of drones.
Participants agreed to expand help desks at border points to assist genuine travellers. They also decided to organise friendly sports tournaments and joint cultural programmes during major festivals and international events.
The coordination meetings have been held regularly since 2012. The next meeting will take place in India next year, with both sides set to continue cooperation on border security, information-sharing and modern border management.
