April 26, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 08, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan on Wednesday said the partial fencing along the border with Afghanistan was aimed at reducing and eliminating the cross-border movement of Taliban militants and other undesirable elements.

“We are only trying to plug the gaps on the border from where terrorists, criminals, smugglers and drug-traffickers cross,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said while reacting to her Afghan counterpart’s statement that Kabul would use all means to stop Pakistan erecting a fence.

Underscoring that fencing is part of measures Pakistan has taken to strengthen controls on the border to check illegal movement, she said: “The cross-border movement has been a source of vociferous complaints, especially by Kabul. Therefore, they should welcome any step we take to prevent this kind of movement.”

Her response to Afghanistan’s contention that erecting a fence would divide families living in the area was: “We are equally sensitive to the movement of tribal people to meet their families across the border. This is a right which they have enjoyed historically. For this purpose there are designated crossing points and checkposts.”

SINGH’S STATEMENT: When the FO spokesperson’s attention was drawn to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s reported statement about ongoing discussions on the Kashmir issue with Pakistan and his vision for a “Naya (new) Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh” at the roundtable conference in New Delhi a day before, she said: “As far as the exchanges between Pakistan and India are concerned, these are taking place at various levels as has also been stated by the Indian prime minister. It will be premature at this stage to talk about any specific features of the settlement.”

She noted that the roundtable conference was part of the discussions which were taking place in the search for a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, adding: “A solution that is acceptable to Pakistan, India and most importantly to the people of Kashmir will be welcomed.”

COMMONWEALTH: In a rebuttal to the veiled warning by a Commonwealth official on the President Musharraf’s uniform issue, Ms Aslam said: “On matters related to Pakistan’s domestic situation, the president has stated that decisions on these issues will be taken in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan. This is a clear position and should obviate the need for speculative comments, especially by outsiders.”