Bad Fences, Bad Neighbors

[A.Rahman]

Bad Fences, Bad Neighbors

A war of words escalates between Afghanistan and Pakistan


Monday, Mar. 20, 2006


Hours after a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a convoy carrying Afghan Senate leader Sibghatullah Mujaddedi in Kabul last week, killing four other people, the politician appeared on television to lay blame—not on al-Qaeda or a resurgent Taliban, but on the President of neighboring Pakistan. "Pervez Musharraf, a dishonorable person, ordered the attack," Mujaddedi thundered, an accusation that Pakistan's Foreign Ministry called "baseless."

Afghanistan is suffering a growing number of suicide bombings. Leaders, including President Hamid Karzai, say the Musharraf government is not doing enough to stop militants from its side of the border from carrying out the attacks. "Much of the leadership and training for the ongoing insurgency is based in Pakistan," says Joanna Nathan, senior analyst for the International Crisis Group in Afghanistan.

Islamabad says it already has some 80,000 soldiers patrolling the mountainous frontier, where Osama bin Laden is also believed to be hiding. To boost border security further, some Pakistani officials propose building a fence, complete with guard towers and land mines. But that's an impractical suggestion—the fence would have to traverse 2,200 km of rugged terrain, bisecting villages and homes. The better solution, says Rustam Shah Mohmand, Pakistan's former ambassador to Afghanistan, is "cooperation and coordination. We are dependent on each other. If this conflict continues, [we] will both suffer."


From the Mar. 27, 2006 issue of TIME Asia

 

[RAPTOR]

Theres only one solution to this....FENCE the entire afghan/Pakistan border.!!

 

[SMC]

Thats exactly right. Obviously the afghans will say no because then they won't be able to smuggle drugs and weapons to Pakistan. Really, the last solution is to fence the border or seal it with land mines.

 

[Kaiser]

Thats exactly right. Obviously the afghans will say no because then they won't be able to smuggle drugs and weapons to Pakistan. Really, the last solution is to fence the border or seal it with land mines.

Yes and we have reached the last solution know that Karzai the mayor of kabul (has no control what so ever of the rest of afghanistan) is talking alot of trash about pakistan not doing enought work when so far we have put 70,000 troops on the border, lost more troops than all the NATO forces, caught way more terrorist than Afganistan and NATO itself combined.India has alot of prescence in afganistan mainly through karzai thats why in the last few days he's been wet dreaming about having a trade resolution with india (via pakistan) thus allowing india to reach out to the rest of Central asia and gain what pakistan and china are working so hard for.

 

[RAPTOR]

Yes and we have reached the last solution know that Karzai the mayor of kabul (has no control what so ever of the rest of afghanistan) is talking alot of trash about pakistan not doing enought work when so far we have put 70,000 troops on the border, lost more troops than all the NATO forces, caught way more terrorist than Afganistan and NATO itself combined.India has alot of prescence in afganistan mainly through karzai thats why in the last few days he's been wet dreaming about having a trade resolution with india (via pakistan) thus allowing india to reach out to the rest of Central asia and gain what pakistan and china are working so hard for.

lol....thats exactly right! Karzai is in hindustan right now and singing like a parrot about joining up south and central asia, wants a land corridor through Lahore for indian goods to pass through destined for afganistan and central asia. Also hes singing songs about a "Triological" partnership between india, afganistan and Pakistan.... .
Someone should tell the mayor of kabul...that when his writ covers ALL of afghanistan.....hes free to make such statements......until then he should stick to kabul .

 

[Kaiser]

lol....thats exactly right! Karzai is in hindustan right now and singing like a parrot about joining up south and central asia, wants a land corridor through Lahore for indian goods to pass through destined for afganistan and central asia. Also hes singing songs about a "Triological" partnership between india, afganistan and Pakistan.... .
Someone should tell the mayor of kabul...that when his writ covers ALL of afghanistan.....hes free to make such statements......until then he should stick to kabul .

Yeah 150% true, First he needs to learn about politics and then he will realize that he's being used like a whore by hindia to get advantage of the Past brotherly relationship with pakistan so hindia can get access to the rich economy of central asia.

 

[SMC]

I think Musharraf gave him a good treatment when he blased Karzai few weeks ago. He keeps going on about Pakistan role in the war on terror and makes baseless accusations. He was dealt with rightly.

 

[sword9]

Thats exactly right. Obviously the afghans will say no because then they won't be able to smuggle drugs and weapons to Pakistan. Really, the last solution is to fence the border or seal it with land mines.

Fencing is easier said than done. The fencing in a mountainous terrain is difficult and requires constant surveillance. Besides land mines get redundant with the passage of time.

 

[SMC]

Well I do realize that. I know that if it ever happens, it won't be done in a month. It will probably take quite a few years. But if it takes years, then let it.

 

[sword9]

Well I do realize that. I know that if it ever happens, it won't be done in a month. It will probably take quite a few years. But if it takes years, then let it.

Don't get me wrong. I was addressing the members who considered fencing a fool proof and stand alone solution.

 

[Spring Onion]

Don't get me wrong. I was addressing the members who considered fencing a fool proof and stand alone solution.

if not fool proof and stand alone solution but it has many benefits and it must be done now and initiation of the fencing should be considered at its earliest as it already will be an expensive affair and if we let it to linger on we r gonna pay a alot for it.

 

[sword9]

if not fool proof and stand alone solution but it has many benefits and it must be done now and initiation of the fencing should be considered at its earliest as it already will be an expensive affair and if we let it to linger on we r gonna pay a alot for it.

That is true.

 

[RAPTOR]

:thumbsup: Pakistan-Afghan border closed :thumbsup:

PESHAWAR (AFP) - Pakistan has sealed its northwestern frontier with Afghanistan to stop the infiltration of Taliban rebels fleeing a military offensive there, military officials said Monday.
Authorities deployed paramilitary troops in Dir and Chitral towns bordering Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, the scene of the biggest joint Afghan and coalition operation in months, the officials said.
“The deployment is aimed at blocking the crossover of terrorists fleeing the operation on the other side of the border,” an official in Peshawar said on condition of anonymity. Earlier paramilitary Major Taimur Khan told reporters in Dir the border closure aimed to “hold back the terrorists entering Pakistani territory” from Kunar. He would not reveal the number of troops being deployed. About 2,500 troops from the US-led coalition and the Afghan army, backed by British and US warplanes, are taking part in the operation in Kunar, which was launched Wednesday.
The coalition said seven insurgents and seven civilians had been killed so far in the campaign. Afghan officials said another two militants died. The operation is seen as retaliation for a new spring offensive launched by the Taliban, with a stream of suicide blasts and other attacks in the south and east of the country. Another 41 militants and six police were killed in a major day-long clash Friday in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, which borders southwestern Pakistan.

 

[Neo]

Eventhough the border is saled, it can never be secured fully as the terrain doesn't allow it.
We need to send more capable equippement to this region, more gunships euipped with nightvision, more patroling troops and special forces.

 

[Bull]

and also the PA hasnt said whther the closure has been implemeted by additonal troops and not by the existing 80,000 on the western border.