Fencing border with Afghanistan need of hour: Government
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ISLAMABAD (APP): Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan on Monday underlined the need for fencing Pakistani border with Afghanistan to stop illegal movement of citizens across the border.
Speaking in a private news channel program, the minister said thousands of citizens' daily cross the border both ways and time has come to monitor the situation and allow only people with legal documents to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
He said the government is cognizant to external involvement and law and order situation in the country as he mentioned to proofs presented to United Nations last year about foreign involvement in Balochistan. "But, holding anybody responsible for any terrorist attack needs evidence and whenever we get evidence about any incident, we convey our concerns to the respective countries."
Khurram Dastgir said Pakistan respect Afghanistan's sovereignty but it has to defend its sovereignty also. "Now the consensus is also evolving in the Parliament. We can allow them trade and legal movement across the border. But illegal movement is a serious matter and this border can no more work unregulated."
He said the issue of cross-border terrorism was also raised by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan at SAARC Ministers Conference and he will also substantiate his points.
The minister mentioned that earlier attacks on Hazara community were termed as sectarian violence but attack on lawyers' community is an attack on our civil society and the government will fulfill its responsibility to protect our people.
He said the government has taken number of steps to counter terrorism and mentioned to announcement of combing operation, legislation on terrorism, tightening border security and improving intelligence sharing among our law enforcing agencies.
