By Muslim Mirror Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: Amid growing tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, India and Pakistan’s maritime officials held “successful” talks on the issues related to maritime in a cordial atmosphere here. The Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood Thursday expressed the hope the interaction between the two institutions would help alleviate sufferings of the fishermen, particularly those who cross IMBL.
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency delegation (PMSA) was led by PMSA’s Director General, Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman which had official talks with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), led by its Director General Rajendra Singh. Both sides held the ‘High-Level Meeting’ (HLM) on 28 May 2018.
According to the press note released by the Pakistan High Commission, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) delegation has concluded a successful visit to India and “the proceedings were marked by cordiality.”
It is to mention that the meeting held after two-years gap as the last meeting between the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Indian Coast Guard was held in Islamabad in July 2016.
During the delegation’s stay in New Delhi, Director-General Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman also visited the Pakistan High Commission. Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood welcomed the re-activation of the PMSA-ICG dialogue and underlined that it would contribute to the efforts underway for continuous and optimal utilization of the existing tracks of bilateral cooperation.
High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood also hoped that this fruitful interaction between the two institutions would inter alia help alleviate sufferings of the fishermen, particularly those who cross IMBL inadvertently; strengthen mutual collaboration in search-and-rescue (SAR) and foster enhanced cooperation between the two sides with regard to response to pollution and natural calamities.