QUETTA:
Pakistan has completely sealed its borders with Afghanistan along Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since they have been found to be involved in most terror attacks in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday at Chief Minister Secretariat, Malik accused Afghans of involvement in other crimes as well.
When asked if key operatives of al Qaeda and Taliban were in Quetta, he said that after the death of Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda has declared Pakistan to be its enemy.
Taliban leaders, according to him, have moved from remote tribal areas to Quetta after their defeat by the Pakistan Army.
He said: “The Tehreek-i-Taliban leaders, who were based in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata), are facing defeat at the hand of the Pakistan Army and have now moved to Quetta,” Malik said, referring to the recent twin suicide attacks on the residence of the DIG of the Frontier Corps (FC), Farrukh Shehzad.
He said that Pakistan had long sheltered “Afghan refugees (but they are now acting) against Pakistan”.
Afghanistan, he said, “is a brotherly country, but this does not mean that its nationals will be allowed to carry out criminal activities (here)”.
“There will be complete restriction on the movement of Afghan refugees in Balochistan and K-P,” Malik said.
“We have given a one-month deadline to illegal immigrants to get their refugee cards. Otherwise, they will be arrested. Pakistan has also stopped issuing visit visas to Afghan nationals.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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@naeem: care to explain the sectarian riots and he also needs to check the lashkare jhangve in seraiki belt
not true.another rehman malik punjabi filmi bhark.
If you don't want the US poking around Pakistan, then get rid of the militants and it will happen all on its own. That is, if you really do it. Treating them like idiots usually has the opposite effect.
I know there aren't enough twists, turns and tales of mythical creatures in the idea to be accepted by the average conspiracy theorist, but it's true.
Lets leave the pashtuns alone and start concentrating on protection for Shias, Ahmedis and other minorities in this country before they start hating us. Thank you.
Pashtoons are the lifeline of Pakistan without them Pakistan will perish.
Dear friends, The picture i can see is now Ricko diq in Baluchistan. Now when America wants that gold , the Taliban has come to Quetta. If Gold is found in Japan, Taliban definitely would move towards Japan and if oil or gas is found at Germany even then Taliban will be found in Germany as any of the leaders of Taliban would be found in Germany. I have a question. I never mind if America is following Oil/ Gas / Gold or any reserves under the name of Taliban but......... How we shameful Pakistanis can give this statement that now Taliban have moved to Quetta? Mr. Rehman Malik !!! you are requested to bow before America but you cant force the young generation of Pakistan to bow the way you do. (I may not always be perfect but i am always me. You can break me but you cant make me bow before any one else Allah) Shameful Rehman Malik who knows very well why America has demanded him to give this statement and even then he gave such a statement.
Regards
its not about Afghans or Pakistanis , these al-qaeda powered ideology have no national roots its ego which utilizes nationalists as a base stance for their dreadful ambitions . unity my friends !! UNITY !!
@Anjum You still don't understand do you. Sometimes you need to learn to stop blaming the Americans and start looking at yourself. Muslims kill Muslims, so I wouldn't find it strange if an Pakistani killed another or a Afghani killed a Pakistani. Stop accusing SK of being a non-Pakistani. Pakistan is under threat of anyone. Right now, it should sort itself out. Forget the Americans, the Afghans and the Indians. Afghanistan has caused nothing but harm for Pakistan, same as America, it has caused nothing but harm and same with India, with the on-going Kashmir problem. Why kick out all the Americans only? We should kick out anyone who does not abide by the laws of Pakistan. Yes, we should make Pakistan literate and economically independent but that won't happen until the Terrorist activities by Taliban and Al-Qaeda finish, the Kashmir solution is sorted, and we stop thinking India or America is our enemy (we can do better than both the countries but not with hatred.) and most of all, we stop blaming our problems on others. I'm a Pakistani and maybe my mentality to you is strange, but it's the mentality we need right now to move on and make our country a better place. I agree with you, SK, on certain points.
Mullah Omar finally captured?? http://mintopark.com/2011/09/10/mullahomar_captured/
I agree with you, Anjum! And I agree with Salma, too! Being a citizen of Germany, I follow up whatever happens in Pakistan. I know that Malik has done much wrong in the past as well. He should leave his position as Interior Minister. I hope, he will not vote again in next elections in Pakistan.
@SK: Sorry mate, cannot agree with you. Does not make sense is not practical. This is non-pakistani mentality. Afghanistan is paks brother nation, we can never abandon them and their lovely population. Start by de-weaponising, registring all citizens, kick out the americans and other of their spy allies, make pak 100% literate, economic independant etc
@SK: Cmon, whatever happened to the 'We-won't-keep-quiet-if-our-Ummah-is-attacked' policy?
Aren't we the custodians of Islam whose job is to unite the Ummah? Are we not the chosen people? If we don't protect the interests Afghanistan, then who will ?
Whatever you said...if the same thing had been repeated by a westerner, we will immediately accuse him of being an Islamophobe. A Muslim from Pakistan is afraid of fellow Muslims from a neighbouring country ! Strange !!!
So drone attacks coming to Balochistan?
Good move. Time to act bold against these Afghans living here for nothing and engaging in all sorts of petty crimes. What Pakistan needs is a firm military action against foreigners using its territory illegally, violating its sovereingity and killing innocent Pakistanis. If I was the president of Pakistan, one of my top goals would have been to build a permanent "Great Wall of Pakistan" (bigger than the great wall of China) along the full Afghanistan border. It would restrict all the mass influx of Afghans, Arabs and other creatures from venturing into our territory and send a message to Afghanistan to "keep your mess within your own country, thank you."
@ET....for the love of God and for the sake of the credibility of your newspaper, please dont censor my comments. Thanks