Border guarding forces of India and Pakistan are expected to hold their bi-annual DG-level talks on issues related to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border in July in Lahore.

The last such meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers was held in the national capital in September last year.

While the forces have mutually agreed to hold the talks between July 21 and 24 at the Rangers' headquarters in Lahore sources said, a final call on travel will only be taken by the governments of the two countries.

The proposed visit of an NIA team to Pakistan to probe the Pathankot terror attack is awaiting Islamabad's approval.

A Joint Investigation Team from Pakistan had visited Pathankot early this year.

Sources indicated a positive movement on NIA's proposed visit could pave the way for the BSF-Rangers meeting.

Officials said though the IB has been 'relatively less volatile' in nearly eight months since the last meeting between the two forces compared to the frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2015, infiltration and drugs smuggling continue to be a matter of concern.

They said the bi-annual meeting between the two border guarding forces has been already delayed due to a number of bilateral issues.

The Indian side will also raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the IB.