Kathmandu: Authorities from Nepal and India have agreed to prioritize the formation of a joint task force to strengthen border security and prevent illegal entry of third-country nationals across the Nepal-India border. The decision was made during the ongoing APF-SSB Eighth Coordination Meeting in Kathmandu, which began on Saturday.

The meeting, aimed at enhancing coordination between Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) and India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), focuses on issues such as cross-border crime prevention, surveillance, and information exchange. Discussions have centered around the entry of Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi, and Rohingya nationals into Nepal and India, with both sides agreeing on the need for stronger monitoring measures.

A proposal to establish a joint task force will be presented to the respective ministries after a meeting on Monday. The task force would facilitate joint surveillance, control illegal activities, and enhance coordination along the 1,880 km border.

Both countries also discussed issues like drug and arms smuggling and agreed to meet biannually at the chief security officer level to further bolster cooperation. The APF and SSB have held these meetings since 2012 to address shared border security concerns.