Corrupt members of the elite and criminal mafia on both sides of the border benefited from this smuggling
LAHORE: It took courage and commitment of a professional General, Raheel Sharif, and the government to finally enforce strict border control management along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the aftermath of the Angoor Adda checkpost incident. Thousands of victims of targeted killings and terrorism could have been saved if General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had the vision, commitment and foresight to take this decision 15 years ago, when circumstances were more conducive.
Every sovereign independent country and its political and security establishment have a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure that geographical boundaries are made secure through surveillance and regulatory controls, which are universally adopted by every country. Failure to do so jeopardises state security and national economy, and Pakistan has been suffering the consequences of this lapse. It is common knowledge that a porous border with unchecked movement suited drug and illegal ammunition cartels. They minted billions in narcotics trade, kidnappings for ransom and illegal sales of weapons, along with smuggled cars, which were facilitated through numerous tax amnesty schemes by successive governments in Pakistan. Corrupt members of the elite and criminal mafia on both sides of the border benefited from this smuggling. It is time the movement of goods and people on our western borders were strictly controlled so that the war against terrorism yields benefits for which our valiant soldiers and citizens have offered supreme sacrifices.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2016.
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