SRINAGAR, July 31: India has lodged a “strong protest” with Pakistan over detection of a cross-border tunnel in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
“A strong protest was lodged late this afternoon by Border Security Force (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,” wire agency PTI quoted a senior BSF official as saying on Tuesday.
A strong protest note with evidence was also handed over to Pakistani authorities at a flag meeting at Octroi Border Out Post (BoP) in RS 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.
Meanwhile Home minister P Chidambaram has expressed concern over the tunnel and said the matter was being looked into. “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,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Authorities had on July 28 detected a 400-mt-long tunnel between India and Pakistan along the border in Samba district, prompting fears that it could have been used by militants to infiltrate into this side of 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. The tunnel also had pipes probably for supplying oxygen.
