ISLAMABAD, March 9: Pakistan will fence its border with Afghanistan and plant landmines to stop infiltration of foreigners. “There is no writ of the government in some provinces in Afghanistan bordering Pakistan and instead of tackling the situation in its own country, the Afghan government is accusing Pakistan of cross-border infiltration,” Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said here on Thursday while speaking to a large delegation of elected councillors of Fata.

The minister said the government had taken the decision as a last resort to stop cross-border movement of terrorists from the neighbouring country.

“We are suffering from large-scale poppy cultivation and gunrunning in Afghanistan and the Afghan government had no writ in some of its provinces to overcome the situation,” he said.

The Afghan president recently alleged that Pakistan had failed to control infiltration of terrorists into Afghanistan from its border areas.

He said Pakistan had been playing a key role in the war on terror and the US had acknowledged it. “But despite this, the neighbouring country is blaming that Pakistan is doing nothing against terrorists,” he said.

The interior minister said permanent peace and stability in Afghanistan would indirectly benefit Pakistan.

He asked councillors of tribal areas to help the government and not to provide shelter to any foreign national in their areas.

The government, he said, was unhappy on the current law and order situation in tribal areas, especially North and South Waziristan.

“We know that the people of tribal areas are very much hospitable and they always welcome their foreign guests, but these guests should not involve in any anti-state and anti-social activity,” he said.

The government, he said, had been bearing expenses of deploying 80,000 troops in Waziristan and other troubled areas.

The interior minister assured the councillors of tribal areas that the government would consult them before taking any decision on the issues of their areas and fulfil their demands.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...