QUETTA, Jan 21: The United States on Tuesday handed over 483 vehicles and 626 wireless sets to the Frontier Corps in Balochistan in the latest instalment under a 73-million-dollar security assistance package.

“The Border Security Programme (BSP) is a partnership between the governments of United States and Pakistan which is aimed at improving security condition on 2,400-kms-long Pakistan border with Afghanistan,” said US ambassador Nancy Powell at a handing over ceremony here.

She said under this programme, the US government was providing vehicles equipped with latest facilities to FC Balochistan to enable them to patrol rugged terrain and remote locations in order to maintain law and order situation at Pakistan-Afghanistan border and to check terrorist activities, narcotics trafficking and other forms of criminality.

Over 600 radio equipment were also being provided to the FC to help them communicate long distances throughout the province. Besides, training was also being provided to Pakistani pilots and mechanics to drive latest helicopters to improve border security from the sky, she added.

Nancy said: “US Government is very proud to have a partnership with Pakistan government on border security programme. We look forward to working with all recipient agencies, including FC Balochistan, on the tough challenges that lie ahead.”

She also lauded performance of FC to check terrorist activities and drug trafficking along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Inspector General FC Balochistan, Maj Gen Syed Sadaqat Ali Shah, said Balochistan covers almost 44 per cent of the total area of the country, having 2100 kms long borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

The vastness and difficult terrain coupled with lingual and cultural homogeneity of the border belt “offer a challenging environment to our efforts.”

The IG expressed satisfaction and pride that Pakistan had been declared a poppy-free country by UNDCP. “FC seized over sixteen tons of drugs worth more than Rs745 million in local market during the year 2002. —AFP/APP