OTTAWA, May 5: Afghan forces are unable to control the rising number of suicide bombers infiltrating the border to attack Canadians and other western troops, according to a report in a Canadian newspaper.

Quoting an Afghan military commander, the Globe and Mail alleged Afghanistan’s borders with Pakistan and Iran were so easily penetrated that foreign militants can enter the country at unguarded crossings and launch deadly assaults.

“There are more than 16 vehicle-entry points across this porous border, some of which are not controlled by Afghan forces,” Gen Shah Wali Ghayoor, chief of staff for the 205 Corps of the Afghan National Army, was quoted as saying by the Mail.

The general, who is responsible for southern Afghanistan, alleged that most of the attackers involved in the suicide attacks and improvised explosive-device attacks are foreigners. The US-led forces and their Afghan allies are planning to strengthen their forces along the border to increase control of illegal crossings, he added.

Gen Ghayoor confirmed that of late there had been an increase in the number of suicide attacks and bombings on western forces by the Taliban. But that is because the insurgents are too weak to launch a direct face-to-face assault on the coalition forces.