Pakistan offers to fence Afghan border

[TexasLawyer]

Monday, November 06, 2006

Pakistan offers to fence Afghan border

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is willing to fence off its border with Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Sunday, a day after his Dutch counterpart called for greater international pressure on Islamabad to stop militants from infiltrating Afghan territory.

Kasuri renewed the offer in talks with his Dutch counterpart Bernard Bot, a ministry statement said. Kasuri also said both Pakistani and Afghan security forces should jointly monitor the border to prevent movement by militants, it said. “Bot welcomed Pakistan’s readiness to seal the border ... and said that he would discuss this with other NATO partners,” the statement said.

Pakistan has repeatedly said it is willing seal the border with Afghanistan. But officials say Kabul has rejected proposals to build a fence or mine the frontier.

Bot also praised Pakistan for its efforts in the fight against the Taliban. “Minister Bot encouraged Pakistan and Afghanistan to further strengthen and deepen their good neighbourly relations,” said a Dutch embassy statement.

<snip>

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\06\story_6-11-2006_pg7_3

[TexasLawyer]

1. Refugee problem in Pakistan

It looks like Pakistan none too pleased with their thousands of Afghan refugees. So the fence could serve a dual purpose.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Frontier police restricting Afghans to their camps

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Afghans living in the provincial metropolis have no option but to limit their movement as the NWFP police has started arresting them.

A police official deployed in the outskirts of the city, and who was about to dispatch a group of some two-dozen Afghan refugees in three different vans to Badhaber Police Station, said that the senior officials had ordered the police to arrest ‘suspicious’ people.

The policemen said the orders were issued two days after the Bajaur incident. “The government may be fearing a backlash after the Bajaur incident and they (the Afghans) can create problems,” he said.

<snip>

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\06\story_6-11-2006_pg7_10

[ovidsen]

2. Never happen

According to Wikipedia, Pakistan's border with Afghanistan 2430 kilometres (1509 mi) long.

Makes the idea of a US-Mexico fence almost sound reasonable.

[Infinite Hope]

3. Sure, the underground tunnels will still be used...

and U.S. troops will have more trouble navigating the border.

[donsu]

4. fence mania strikes again

nt

[saigon68]

6. Hire the East Germans

They know a thing or 2 about fences (AND WALLS)

[treestar]

5. Highly mountainous, not even certain of location and Pakistan

does not even have complete control over the tribal area.

Almost funny.

[zreosumgame]

7. I see, AFTER OBL escaped there of course..

Horse gone, barndoor closed...how logical

[SOS]

8. Afghanistan

would never accept a fence on the Durand Line.
Nor would Pashtuns or the Balochs.
This idea is DOA. If they try it, they will be attacked from both sides.