Renewing cooperation: Kabul, Islamabad agree to bolster border controls

Decide to check cross-border incursions by militants, human and drug smugglers.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to reactivate the Joint Commission on Border Management in an effort to keep a check on cross-border activities. The Joint Commission will be headed by Afghan senior deputy minister and Pakistan’s interior secretary.

The step has been taken to keep a vigilant eye on militants, human traffickers and drug smugglers—factors which have disrupted security cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad in the past, an interior ministry official said.

In a meeting held last week in Kabul, senior officials of the two countries – Ministry of Interior Secretary Shahid Khan and Afghan Senior Deputy Interior Minister General Ayoub Salangi – discussed various issues including incursions from both side of this porous border and agreed to exchange data regularly about militant activities.



“The Afghan side was represented by high ranking officials from Ministry of Interior. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq was also present [at the meeting],” an official statement issued by Foreign Office on Monday said.

Both countries also renewed efforts for transfer of prisoners. Thousands of prisoners have been languishing in several jails of both the neighbours for years, an official revealed.

“The renewed call to transfer prisoners is a part of the already signed agreements between Kabul and Islamabad,” he said.

The FO statement said the officials also discussed issues pertaining to border management, visa regime, and transfer of prisoners.

“The two sides also agreed to work closely with each other to improve visa regime for facilitation of genuine travellers from both countries,” it ran.

According to the statement, the interior secretary also called on Afghanistan Interior Minister Mohammad Umer Daudzai.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2014.