29 March 2017

News Story: Pakistan Moves To Build Fence Along Disputed Border

Pakistan has started building a fence along the disputed 2,500km Durand Line in areas Islamabad deems “high threat zones”.

Islamabad has long blamed alleged insurgents based in Afghanistan for attacks on Pakistan soil.

This comes after Islamabad closed the main crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan for a month – only reopening gates last week – a move that cost traders millions of dollars.

Reuters quoted Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying initial fencing will focus on "high threat zones" of Bajaur and Mohmand agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which border eastern Afghan provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.

"Additional technical surveillance means are also being deployed along the border besides regular air surveillance," the military said in a statement over the weekend, citing Bajwa.

There was no immediate comment from Afghan authorities.

Read the full story at TOLOnews