Iran border fence to complete by December: Sheikh Rashid

Interior minister says 40% of 576 miles border has been fenced off

KARACHI:

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday that Pakistan will have fenced off its volatile border with Iran by the end of this year, a move against terrorism and smuggling.

During a visit to the border town Taftan, Sheikh Rashid said that 40% of the 928 kilometres (576 miles) border has been completed, according to a statement issued by the interior ministry.

The interior minister said that border management on modern lines will be ensured with Iran and Afghanistan.

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He further said that all resources will be utilised for the external security of the country.

The move is aimed at improving the border management between the two countries, he said, adding that it will also improve economy and legal trade between the neighbours.

Taftan is located some 632 km (392 mi) from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

The long and insecure border between the two countries has long been notorious for alleged cross-border movement of militants.

Tehran has long been accusing Islamabad of not acting against militant groups, mainly Jaish-al-Adl, which have carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran’s border province of Sistan-Balochistan, a claim that Pakistan denies.

In February 2019, a suicide bomber had killed 27 Iranian border guards in Sistan-Balochistan, fueling the diplomatic tensions between the two countries, and subsequently prompting Islamabad to start building a fence.

(With additional input from Radio Pakistan)