\u201cWe must secure our country, and these crossing points compromising our security,\u201d says defence minister
\n Islamabad
\nIn a major policy shift, Pakistan has decided to stringently enforce international laws at its borders with Afghanistan, to restrict the influx of militants and smuggled goods into the country, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday.
\nThe government seeks not only to curb economic losses caused by the smuggling of oil, fertilisers, and other goods from Afghanistan into Pakistan, but also to thwart the infiltration of terrorists, avert potential breaches, and implement security checks at the borders.
\n\u201cAll traffic from Afghanistan will only be allowed entry into Pakistan with a valid passport and visa,\u201d said Asif talking to Geo News, hinting at the end of the longstanding practice of Afghans entering Pakistan without proper documentation.
\nThe statement comes as Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in cross-border attacks on security forces in recent months with the militants using advanced weaponry and equipment.
\nIslamabad has time again called on the interim Afghanistan government to prevent its land from being used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant organisations for carrying out attacks against Pakistan.
\n\u201cWe must secure our country, and these crossing points have been compromising our security,\u201d the defence minister said in today\u2019s interaction.
\nHe further pointed out that after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, there had been a spike in terrorism, with most incidents tracing back to Afghan soil. \u201cCurrently, all terrorism is emanating from Afghan territory.\u201d
\nAsif said that formal borders, where passports were required for crossing, were a standard global practice, noting that despite Pakistan\u2019s repeated requests for cooperation, Kabul was yet to respond adequately.
\n\u201cOur borders with China, Iran, and India operate with strict regulations, and it should be the same with Afghanistan,\u201d he asserted.
\nReplying to a question, Asif said they were cognisant of the fact that there were families on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Rationalising the decision to implement visa and passport restrictions, he compared them to the families divided in Kashmir since the partition of the subcontinent.
\nAddressing other divided borders, Asif mentioned that similar issues exist along the Sialkot borders \u2014 with India\u2014 and the working boundary, where families are split.
\nAfghanistan does not recognise the Durand Line, the border between the two countries, arguing it was created by the British to divide ethnic Pashtuns.
\nThe 2,640-kilometre border was established in 1893 through an agreement between British-ruled India and Abdur Rahman Khan, then ruler of Afghanistan.
\nBoth countries share 18 crossing points, with Torkham and Chaman being the most frequently used for trade and movement of people. These crossings connect Balochistan province to Afghanistan\u2019s southern Kandahar province.
\nIn 2017, Pakistan started fencing the border with Afghanistan to contain terrorist cross-border movement, a move condemned by Kabul.
\nResponding to recent comments by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asif said with due respect he disagreed with Maulana\u2019s statements regarding China.
\n\u201cI accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his visit to China, and I was present during his meetings with the Chinese president and prime minister. China\u2019s commitment to cooperation with Pakistan is unequivocal,\u201d Asif said, making it clear that no one should have any confusion about it.
\n\u201cI have verified that Maulana [Fazl] has not had any recent discussions with any diplomat. I believe he [Fazl] is mistaken, and we are ready to furnish him with complete information on China\u2019s cooperation and assurances,\u201d Asif added.
\nTerming the prime minister\u2019s visit to China a success, Asif said the revival of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a testament to Beijing\u2019s commitment.
\n\u201cThere are certain strategic matters that cannot be made public; however, the prime minister\u2019s recent visit to Beijing has strengthened Pak-China friendship and relations further,\u201d Asif concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWe must secure our country, and these crossing points compromising our security,\u201d says defence minister Islamabad In a major policy shift, Pakistan has decided to stringently enforce international laws at its borders with Afghanistan, to restrict the influx of militants and smuggled goods into the country, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday. The government […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":304090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-414913","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n