December 28, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 06, 1427

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LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Dec 27: Tribal elders of the Khyber Agency have criticised thea government’s policy of fencing and mining the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Agency councillor Israr Afridi warned that people on Afghan side of the border would oppose the border fencing and cautioned that unilateral fencing would reignite the Durand Line issue between the two countries.

“It’s a disputed territorial issue and the Afghan government will never agree to the fencing and mining of its border,” he said.

Malik Razzaq Zakhakhel argued that the decision of fencing and mining was not acceptable to majority of the tribesmen. “There should be no doubt about the patriotism of Fata people,” he said, adding that tribesmen were capable of defending the country’s western border.

Malik Darya Khan Zakhakhel said that tribal people had always served as a bridge between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He demanded that the issue of cross-border terrorism should be resolved through mutual negotiations.

He clarified that tribal people had never supported terrorism and insisted that they would not allow their territory to be used for such activities.

The malik said that people of Fata played an important role in pushing the Russian forces out of Afghanistan and vowed to continue their struggle against extremist elements.

Shamsher Khan Kukikhel said that the fencing would further divide Pukhtuns living on both sides of the border. “With the implementation of this policy, the Pakistan government will further alienate its tribal population living along the border with Afghanistan,” he warned and demanded that the decision should be reconsidered immediately.

A tribal student in the University of Peshawar, Nadar Shah Shinwari, argued that the mining would not help control cross-border terrorism.

He suggested that the issue be resolved through negotiation with Afghanistan. He said that the policy of Pakistan would further aggravate the already strained ties between the two countries.

Councillor Hakim Khan said mining would have dangerous consequences and warned that countless tribal women and children would either lose their lives or limbs and lead a miserable life.