India and Bangladesh Friday failed to resolve their differences on issues like border fencing and cross-border infiltration, even as the border guards of the two sides concluded their three-day parleys here.

However, they resolved to strengthen confidence building measures through stepped up simultaneous and co-ordinated patrolling.

"We have decided to expand simultaneous, co-ordinated patrolling, exchange of training facilities and conduct exchanges in the fields of sports and culture," India's Border Security Force Chief R S Mooshahary, flanked by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Maj Gen Jehangir Alam Choudhury, chief of the Bangladesh Rifles ( BDR), briefed reporters on the outcome of the three-day meeting.

However, on the border fencing, Bangladesh persisted on its old stand that the fencing has a defensive structure attached to it.

"We want to conduct border fencing to the level of zero-line due to topographical reasons. However, BDR is opposed to it, saying such fencing is defensive in structure," Mooshahary said.

India, which shares a 4,095- km-long border with Bangladesh, wants fencing along the borders, while Bangladesh opposes it in particular areas, especially where India proposes to erect the barricade within 150 yards (about 200 meters) of the zero line.

Bangladesh argues that erection of the fence within 150 yards of the zero line violates the 1975 boundary agreement between the two countries, which stipulates that no barricade can be set up by either country within this distance of the border.

India rejects this contention and insists that in certain areas along the 4,095-km-long border, the fence had to be erected within the 150-yard strip because of topographical and technical reasons.

Mooshahary said his force (BSF) has suggested to BDR that it would hand over a list of those areas where such zero line fencing is required so that it can be approved by Bangladesh government.

On the question of cross-border infiltration, BDR maintained that there were no insurgent groups operating in its territory.

Besides top officials of the border guards, both sides included representatives from the ministries of home and external affairs in the three-day biannual meet.

Source: Xinhua