Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said Wednesday that Pakistan will control all traffic from Afghanistan through six dedicated routes by 2020.

"The border [between Afghanistan and Pakistan] stretches over more than 2,400 kilometres. We need to improve its management," Nisar said.

He was speaking at a press conference near the Torkham Border in Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency.

"Peace between the two countries is inter-linked," he said. "Pakistan wants free movement and welcomes the Afghan people, but terrorist infiltration needs to be curbed," he added.

Nisar said that no terrorist networks or headquarters were functional in Pakistan currently, claiming that terrorists have either been killed or have fled the country following the 'historic' Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

He added that certain rogue elements were now operating from across the Pak-Afghan border. "These people sneak across the border, enter our country, and attack our citizens like cowards," he said.

"We've always helped the Afghan people in their time of need. But terrorists took advantage of unregulated movement on our borders," Nisar said, adding that terrorists have been infiltrating Pakistan by hiding among ordinary citizens.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during his visit to Balahisar and Landikotal. —APP
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during his visit to Balahisar and Landikotal. —APP

"[Every unscrupulous element] who enters Pakistan enters in broad daylight, but we have kept our promise with Afghanistan not to publicise this," he said.

But Afghanistan does not return the gesture, Nisar noted. "[Instead] they accuse us publicly of things we haven't even done," he said.

He urged the Afghan government to 'respect' the shared interests of both countries and its people, and avoid getting influenced by 'others'.

"Don't play games [dictated by] others," Nisar said.

He later added that offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) as well as a visa centre would be established at the Torkham Border in the future.

Nisar said the federal government has released Rs70 billion over the course of a year and a half to expand the Frontier Corps.

"FC personnel will be employed and deployed in large numbers to uncontrolled routes that terrorists are using to sneak into Pakistan," the interior minister said.

"I want to tell the people of Pakistan that the war against terrorism hasn't ended yet."

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