"No more softer border crossing for illegal persons": Pak officials

TORKHAM BORDER: Indicating to further enhance the checking and security system at the Pak-Afghan border in the coming days, a senior security forces official has said that federal government would take the final decision to reopen the border with Afghanistan.  
 

It was stated by a top level Khyber Rifles official in a formal meeting held with the local journalists here in Landikotal on Monday. Wishing anonymity the security forces official said that they would further restrict the border crossings to completely block illegal intruders and other suspects to enter into Pakistan. He said work on the border fencing was underway to completely secure the border with Afghanistan.

The official said that none of person without legal travel documents had crossed the border after they placed border management policy in June last year. He added that no terrorists entered Pakistan via Torkham border during the last few months. 

“It is in the favor of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to enjoy close brotherly relations, enhance trade between the countries and fight collectively against their common enemies”, the official stated.

He said Pakistan always welcomed Afghan refugees and supported them in hard times. He urged the Afghan government to extend their good wishes for Pakistan as Pakistani nation consider Afghan nationals their brothers and sisters. 

“We closed the border just because of the security threats being posed from the soil of Afghanistan and  beefed up the border security to avoid Bacha Khan University and Army Public school’s type incidents in Pakistan”, the security forces officials remarked. 

The official asked the Afghan government that they should not allow anyone to use their soil for terrorist activities in Pakistan. He said morally the Afghan government should believe in mutual cooperation to eliminate terrorism from the countries. 

He said the border with Afghanistan would not  be remained softer for those who come to Pakistan without visa. He said more legal restrictions would soon be imposed to closely check the movement via Torkham and other border points with Afghanistan. 

The senior security forces official said that the number of legal Afghan travelers was increased after they imposed visa condition on them. He said with the passage of time everyone would be familiar with the border management policy as it was in the favor both the nations. 

The official said they realized that both Pakistani and Afghan nationals want reopening of the border to resume business activities across the border. 

Indicating about the reopening of the border with Afghanistan in the coming hours, the official said it was the federal government domain to give its final decision. 

Meanwhile, the Pak-Afghan border at various points was remained closed on the twelve day. Hundreds of shops,hotels and other market places and around three thousands mini-coaches and taxi cabs remained off the road due to the closure of the border with Afghanistan.