ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Tuesday said Pakistanhad started work of fencing border with Afghanistan as it was imperative toregulate cross border movement.

Pakistan had started work of fencing the border at its own resources andAfghanistan should also initiate work as it was a collective responsibilityof both the countries, he said talking to a private news channel.

He said 60,000 to 70,000 people cross Pak-Afghan border daily so itsmanagement was necessary to monitor these movements.Asif said Pakistan had been hosting huge number of Afghan refugees fordecades and now was the time of their repatriation in a respectable manner.

He said United States (US) had spent billions of dollars in Afghanistan andthey should also take steps to settle Afghan refugees in their homeland.

To a question, the minister said he would share details of total aid givenby US tomorrow. US President Donald Trump in his recent tweet, hadmentioned the aid given to Pakistan.

He said Pakistan would give its response on Trump’s tweet and the matterwould also be taken up in the parliament.

To another query, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would not compromise on itsgeographical integrity and was capable to defend the homeland.