New Delhi: India has sent new proposals to Pakistan for holding of flag meetings between Coast Guard and Pakistan maritime agency to speedily deal with the cases of straying fishermen.

Defence Minister George Fernandes told Rajya Sabha that India has suggested that these flag meetings be held alternatively in the month of April and September

"Such meetings will facilitate frequent repatriation of apprehended fishermen of both the countries," Fernandes told the House in a written reply.

Government also said, there were no inputs to suggest that Pakistan was evolving a new strategy of infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir, especially through Kargil sector.

Fernandes said, prior to ceasefire the infiltration trend this year (2003) generally conformed to last year.

"There are no inputs to suggest infiltration through Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir or to suggest a new strategy of Infiltration," he told the House.

He said adequate military measures in the form of surveillance of all known infiltration routes, use of unattended sensors, construction of fencing and multi-tiered deployment of troops were in place in Jammu and Kashmir to intercept terrorist groups attempting to sneak across the Line of Control (LoC).

Besides, the Minister said, infantry firepower had been boosted by equipping troops with effective firepower systems like 84MM mark II rocket launchers, automatic grenade launchers AGS-30, anti- material rifles and flame throwers.

PTI