Sunday, April 24 2005 20:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: India and Pakistan today (Apr 24, 2005) signed an agreement to expedite the release of prisoners languishing in each other's jails despite completing their terms and for easy exchange of people accidentally crossing the borders.

Indian and Pakistani border security officials, who signed the agreement in Karachi after four days of talks, have agreed for joint patrolling of the borders and a coordinated crackdown on cross-border smugglers.

The Indian delegation was led by Inspector General of the Border Security Force G S Gill and Pakistani team of paramilitary officials was headed by Maj Gen Javed Zia, Director General of the Pakistan Rangers of the Sindh province.

The two delegations had discussed illegal border crossings and border demarcation, state run PTV said.

According to the agreement, anyone found to have strayed over the border by accident would be released "without going into lengthy and complicated (repatriation) procedures," Javed Zia said.