Fishermen, trafficking on table as India, Pakistan coast guards meet today

This is the second time after the surgical strikes in September 2016 that security establishment officials from Pakistan will be visiting. In January-February this year, Islamabad sent a four-member team of counter-terrorism and intelligence specialists to attend an SCO meeting.

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On Monday, the chief of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman will be representing Pakistan, while the Indian side will be represented by Indian Coast Guard director general Rajender Singh.

In July 2016, Indian Coast Guard officials had visited Islamabad for the previous round of talks.

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The Indian Coast Guard and PMSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 3, 2005, that came into effect on March 16, 2006, envisaging cooperation between ICG and PMSA through exchange of information on Exclusive Economic Zone violations, apprehended vessels, marine pollution, natural disasters/calamities, combating smuggling, illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and piracy, and coordination in search and rescue and return sea passage.

It also established a communication link which is operational. Under the provisions of the MoU, directors general of ICG and PMSA meet periodically. The MoU was extended for five years in 2016.