Afghan border fencing ‘to curb terrorism’

Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Minister for Mir Ziaullah Langau on Tuesday said steps were being taken to address issues pertaining to fencing at border areas through bilateral cooperation of Afghan government in light of the wishes of tribal elders.

He expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting to review measures related to fencing and other matters of Pak-Afghan border in Killa Abdullah district’s Chaman area.

Langau said the fences were being installed on Pak-Afghan border under contribution of the federal government in order to maintain law and order in the province and to curb terrorism. “The provincial government has taken serious steps to resolve the settlement issues in the border area.”

The meeting was attended by Brigadier Amir Inayat from Sector Command, Brigadier Wajid from the Southern Command Office, Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Captain Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Additional Chief Secretary Home Hafiz Abdul Basit, Commissioner Quetta Division Asfandyar Kakar, DIG, Quetta Muhammad Azhar Akram, Commandant Chaman Scouts Colonel Mohammad Rashid, Deputy Commissioner Killa Abdullah Baqam Chaman and other administrative, civil and military officials.

The meeting reviewed in detail the progress regarding fencing on Pak-Afghan border, future strategy proposals, law and order situation and resettlement of divided villages in detail. Several other important decisions were also taken.

The participants also reviewed the status of implementation of the next orders. The meeting was informed that so far 182km work has been completed in 213km fencing on Pak-Afghan border.

Relevant officials briefed the home minister that legally, there would be a significant increase in cross-border migration, which would have a positive impact on the economies of both the countries.

Langau further said that other issues related to the fencing process were being closely scrutinised, adding that all the consultations related to the fence could be resolved on the basis of the proposed report. “The people’s problem will be solved according to their wishes.”

The minister directed to formulate a coordinated strategy after consulting the tribal people, adding that the issues with the tribal elders would be decided jointly by the civil and military leadership.

Towards the end of the meeting, he highlighted how the installation of the fence has helped prevent many incidents of cross-border terrorism. “The focus would be on strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing economic partnership and intensification people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2021.