Amritsar: Pakistan and India are having talks for release of prisoners of war of 1965 and 1971 conflicts, who are languishing in jails in the two countries, a senior Pakistani Army officer said today.

Major General Muhammad Haroon Aslam, who is heading a 14-member delegation of Pakistani Rangers for a bi-annual meeting with Border Security Force in Chandigarh, said the issue of PoW is being taken up by both the countries at the level of foreign ministeries.

"This issue is being taken up at higher level between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on both sides and both sides are working on it and there is certain hope of release of prisoners," he said here as the delegation crossed over into India through the border post here.

This would be the first bi-annual meeting between the two border forces after the installation of the new government in Pakistan.

On Indian charges about cross-border smuggling of narcotics, Haroon said, "As such nothing is coming from Pakistan but even then such issues will be discussed in the three-day meeting with the top officials of BSF and all such confusion prevailing on both sides would be sorted out."

To questions on smuggling of narcotics from Afghanistan to India through Pakistan, Haroon said, "These are mere allegations and nothing else."

He said, "During the meeting, illegal border crossing including those inadvertently and human smuggling on both sides will be the core issues to be discussed thoroughly."

Haroon said, "We are here to discuss the professional matters in the most professional manner but we will not hurl any vague allegations against each other."

Source : PTI