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India lodges protest with Pak over tunnel issue

Kashmir Times. Dated: 8/1/2012 12:32:48 AM

JAMMU, July 31 (Agencies) :India today lodged a "strong protest" with Pakistan over detection of cross-border tunnel along the international border in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
"A strong protest was lodged late this afternoon by BSF with its counterpart Pakistan Rangers over detection of a tunnel in the Indian territory from Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir," a senior BSF official said.
A strong protest note with evidence was also handed over to Pakistani authorities at a flag meeting at Octroi Border Out Post (BoP) along IB in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, he said.
BSF authorities have passed on to them pictorial evidence of the tunnel which is coming in straight alignment from Pakistan to Chichwal border village via Chilyari post from Lumbriyal post in Shakergarh sector of Pakistan.
Senior BSF officials and Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting at the Octroi BoP around 1500 hours.
Authorities had on July 28 detected a 400-mt-long tunnel into India from Pakistan along Indo-Pak Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The tunnel was detected after an area caved-in in a straight line at some places due to rains near fencing close to Chillayari BoP of BSF along the IB. The tunnel had been dug between two sides along IB on India's Chillayari BoP and Pakistan's Lumberiyal BoP.
NEW DELHI: Government today described the detection of a 400-metre-long tunnel across the international border in Jammu and Kashmir as a matter of concern saying the issue will soon be taken up with Pakistan.
"It is a matter of concern...This matter is being discussed at the highest levels between Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. An appropriate response, an appropriate way will be found to take it up with Pakistan," Home Minister P Chidambaram said here.
Complimenting the security forces for the detection, the Home Minister said a similar tunnel was found some time ago along the border.
The tunnel, which was apparently dug for infiltration and smuggling, was detected on July 28 after an area caved-in in a straight line at two-three places due to rains near the border fencing near Chillayari Border Out Post (BoP) of BSF along the International Border in Samba sector.
Replying to a question, Chidambaram said some members of banned SIMI have moved into other organisations and government was carefully watching the activities of these organisations and if necessary they would also be banned.
On Telangana, Chidambaram said Home Ministry was not an interested party in the issue but since the subject falls within the domain of the Home Ministry, it has facilitated a commission of inquiry, whose report was made public.
"Now we are waiting for the government to take a decision after ascertaining the views of all political parties. Whatever decision the government takes, the Home Ministry is bound to implement that decision," he said.