No solution with service providers to security threat of Pak’s mobile signals along Punjab border
Ferozepur, July 17, 2017: The security threat is at stake, on Indo-Pak border along the 553-km-long international border in Punjab, with regular recovery of Pakistani SIMs in border areas, weapons, magazines, ammunition, apprehending of border crosser Pakistani, and Bangladeshi nationals and availability of mobile signals.
Smuggling of heroin and opium has become a regular feature along with Punjab international border but the enhanced vigil of BSF troops has number of times thwarted the attempt of smugglers/ Anti-National Elements to smuggle contraband items into India.
Recently, three Pak SIMs were recovered from a farmer in Gajniwala village by BSF officials and admission of use of Pakistani mobile phone for cross-border drug trade by one Jagtar Singh arrested by Counter Intelligence sleuths are indications of security threat on the border area.
During the past five years, 134 Pakistani SIMs and 69 mobile phones have been seized along the Zero Line. However if sources are to be believed, this is just the tip of the iceberg as it is estimated that at any given point of time, 100-150 Pakistani numbers remain active in the border belt.
The reason behind recovery of number of SIMs is to avoid tracking by the security agencies posting a serious threat to national security.
Sources said that Pakistani mobile signals have presence in more than 20 pockets along the border in Punjab. Their range varies from 500m or more depending upon the location.
Pakistani service provider Mobilink, which leads the market share with nearly 40 million subscribers, has connectivity up to 1 km in Mamdot, Khemkaran and Ferozepur areas while U-Fone’s signals reach Mamdot and Amarkot areas across the fencing.
Even SIM cards of Telenor (Norwegian), Zong (Chinese) and UAE’s Wahid that enjoy a large subscriber base in Pakistan are also being used in this belt.
The mobile signal issue is under consideration of the technical agencies of service providers but there is no permanent solution so far, said BSNL official.
