APF Nepal, India’s SSB begin bilateral border security meeting

KATHMANDU: Nepal and India began their 10th bilateral coordination meeting on border security and management in Kathmandu on Wednesday, focusing on controlling cross-border crime, curbing smuggling and strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ border security forces.

The three-day meeting, running from October 28 to 30, brings together officials from Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) and India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with representatives of relevant government agencies from both countries.

The Nepali delegation is led by APF Inspector General Narayan Dutta Poudel, while the Indian delegation is headed by SSB Director General Sanjay Singhal.

Representatives from Nepal’s ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, Nepal Police, the National Investigation Department and the Department of Survey are participating in the meeting. The Indian delegation includes officials from its ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the SSB.

According to the APF, the meeting will review existing coordination efforts to ensure effective border management, control illegal activities, combat human trafficking and drug smuggling, prevent the trafficking of illegal weapons and other goods, and maintain peace and order in border areas.

The two sides will also discuss removing encroachments along the no-man’s land, protecting, repairing and constructing border pillars, and improving regular coordination meetings and the timely exchange of information.

They will explore ways to strengthen cooperation in identifying and mitigating the risks of cross-border epidemics and disasters, as well as organizing activities, including friendly sports events, to improve relations between the security forces and communities living along the border.

The agenda also includes enhancing the capacity of both organizations, strengthening institutional cooperation, and strictly regulating the illegal movement of third-country nationals who may use the open Nepal-India border.

The two sides will discuss adopting appropriate technologies to make border management more efficient and modern, improving joint disaster preparedness and response, and establishing additional assistance desks at border checkpoints to facilitate travellers.

The meeting is also expected to focus on maintaining regular contact, building mutual trust and ensuring effective information sharing to identify and resolve emerging border-related challenges on time.

The APF said the meeting is expected to strengthen the traditional friendly relations between Nepal and India, and improve coordination between their security forces to maintain peace, security and harmony in border areas.