QUETTA, Aug 25: The Frontier Corps has established 14 new checkpoints along the borders with Afghanistan to check the possible entry of Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters into Balochistan, sources confirmed.

The checkpoints have been established from the Malik Siah Koh to Zhob district where the Frontier Corps is deployed along the Durrand Line.

A few months back, the government had withdrawn the checkpoints of the civil armed forces following complaints from the people. The government permitted more liberal movement of people and goods along the frontier within Balochistan.

The Frontier Corps, Balochistan, have rounded up a large number of Al Qaeda suspects at its posts. Dozens of the suspects were taken to the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba after being handed over to the US administration.

Following recent developments and possibly issues raised by the US, the government has decided to re-establish 14 militia posts of the FC.

When contacted, Pishin Scouts Commandant Col Sarwar Awan confirmed that the Frontier Corps had re-established the 14 posts to monitor the activities of Al Qaeda suspects and check the entry of Taliban fighters into the country.

Earlier, Afghanistan and Pakistan had concluded an agreement for advancing Pakistani checkpoints to zero mile, reoccupying the no-man’s land between the countries near Chaman.

The forces withdrew from the Weesh area, around 1km from the Chaman border, when the Red Army occupied Afghanistan in 1979.

The inspector-general of Frontier Corps, Balochistan, Maj-Gen Rifaqat Hussain, recently concluded an agreement with the visiting Afghan military delegation, led by Kandahar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai for re-establishing the post at Weesh and reoccupying some 206 square kilometers.