India has activated a dozen ‘laser walls’ along the border with Pakistan in Punjab to check cross-border infiltration into its territory and plug the porous riverine and treacherous terrain, Times of India reported.
Eight infrared laser beam intrusion detection systems were made operational along the many vulnerable and sensitive areas of the international border, a senior official of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) said, according to the ToI . The official claimed four more devices of the same kind will be set up in the upcoming days.
The “laser walls” or fence are being monitored by the BSF who took the decision of installing these walls two years ago. The decision to install these walls was reportedly taken as barbed wire fencing was not possible in certain infiltration prone areas.
According to reports, a total of 45 such laser walls will be installed along the international border in Punjab and Indian-held Kashmir.
“The laser walls have started working and their functioning is being monitored. Preliminary results in detecting illegal movements are encouraging,” the official said.
He further said sensors were being monitored through a satellite-based signal command system and armed with night and fog operability tools.
In September last year, Pakistan complained to the UN Security Council (UNSC) about India’s plans to construct a wall along the Line of Control allegedly to convert it “into a quasi-international border”.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi wrote two letters dated September 4 and 9 to the UNSC. In the September 9 letter to UNSC President Vitaly Churkin, Lodhi expressed “deep concern” at the plan by India to construct a 10-metre-high and 135-feet-wide embankment (wall) along the 197km boundary between Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan.
In the letter, Lodhi said Pakistan “considers the embankment a permanent structure that will bring about a material change in the territory in violation inter alia of Security Council resolution of 1948.
“The state of Jammu & Kashmir is internationally recognised disputed territory with a number of United Nations security council resolutions on the official status of Jammu & Kashmir awaiting implementation,” Lodhi said.
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