Pakistan approves $18.6 million to fence border with Iran

[Aspen]

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday approved 3 billion rupees ($18.6 million) in additional funds for the fencing of its border with Iran.
The funds were in the form of a supplementary technical grant.

Pakistan started fencing certain areas of the border in May last year, which Iran is against.
The Senate of Pakistan was informed about the move by the Frontier Constabulary of Balochistan on May 10, 2019.

The 900 km border begins at the Koh-i-Malik Salih mountain and ends at Gwadar Bay in the Gulf of Oman. It passes through a diverse landscape of mountain ridges, seasonal streams and rivers, and is notorious for human trafficking, smuggling and cross-border militancy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has opened five crossings on the border to allow cargo trucks to cross over to Balochistan, Foreign Office spokeswoman, Aisha Farooqui, confirmed on Tuesday, adding that no individual movement was permitted.

“All five border points are open for cargo only. Pedestrians can come only through Taftan,” Farooqui told Arab News, referring to another crossing on the 900 km Pakistani-Iranian border in Balochistan province.

Pakistan sealed the border on Feb. 24 after Tehran confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.
At Taftan, however, Pakistanis who were in Iran for pilgrimage continued to cross into Balochistan as Iranian authorities stamped them out.

Other crossing points, namely Gabd, Mand, Katagar and Chedgi, remained closed until the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) decided to open them for transport of dates and other essential commodities.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior on April 21, the crossing points will remain open three days a week to facilitate trade. Three entry points — Gabd, Mand and Taftan — were reopened on April 21 for up to 50 trucks and 110 pickup vehicles a day.
From Monday, entry of 40 trucks and up to 100 pickup vehicles a day — also three times a week — is allowed at Katagar and Chedgi.

According to the ministry’s notification, the trucks can enter between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. The vehicles and cargo have to be disinfected after customs clearance. Protective measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1666561/world

 

[Sineva]

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday approved 3 billion rupees ($18.6 million) in additional funds for the fencing of its border with Iran.
The funds were in the form of a supplementary technical grant.

Pakistan started fencing certain areas of the border in May last year, which Iran is against.
The Senate of Pakistan was informed about the move by the Frontier Constabulary of Balochistan on May 10, 2019.

The 900 km border begins at the Koh-i-Malik Salih mountain and ends at Gwadar Bay in the Gulf of Oman. It passes through a diverse landscape of mountain ridges, seasonal streams and rivers, and is notorious for human trafficking, smuggling and cross-border militancy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has opened five crossings on the border to allow cargo trucks to cross over to Balochistan, Foreign Office spokeswoman, Aisha Farooqui, confirmed on Tuesday, adding that no individual movement was permitted.

“All five border points are open for cargo only. Pedestrians can come only through Taftan,” Farooqui told Arab News, referring to another crossing on the 900 km Pakistani-Iranian border in Balochistan province.

Pakistan sealed the border on Feb. 24 after Tehran confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.
At Taftan, however, Pakistanis who were in Iran for pilgrimage continued to cross into Balochistan as Iranian authorities stamped them out.

Other crossing points, namely Gabd, Mand, Katagar and Chedgi, remained closed until the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) decided to open them for transport of dates and other essential commodities.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior on April 21, the crossing points will remain open three days a week to facilitate trade. Three entry points — Gabd, Mand and Taftan — were reopened on April 21 for up to 50 trucks and 110 pickup vehicles a day.
From Monday, entry of 40 trucks and up to 100 pickup vehicles a day — also three times a week — is allowed at Katagar and Chedgi.

According to the ministry’s notification, the trucks can enter between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. The vehicles and cargo have to be disinfected after customs clearance. Protective measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1666561/world

I dont know where this idea of iran being against the fencing of the border came from,indeed it was elements on the the pakistani side who were initially against irans fencing of the border,with the provincial assembly of balochistan opposed to it.
Iran began fencing off its section of the border 13 years ago,which was long before pakistan even began to do so on its side in 2019.
Ultimately tho its good to see it being done as this will make it much harder for illegal groups to use this area for their activities

 

[Maxpane]

very good news for both countries

 

[Asian.Century]

Great decision, atleast unwanted Militant will stop from Iran, and Cornavirus will also stop.

Pakistan is finally thinking about securing its borders

https://twitter.com/x/status/1255395256708857861

 

[Yaseen1]

i think after corona pandemic spread from iran to Pakistan establishment has now realized how much serious a threat certain elements in iran posses to Pakistan and border movements should be severely monitored to counter any biological attack in future

 

[Malik Alpha]

We should have done it years ago. These crooked mullahs who speak with Imam Mehdi(Dajjal in real) cannot be trusted.

 

[Path-Finder]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1255395256708857861

If iran is opposing the fence then I see them creating hurdles for the fencing team!!

 

[Bil]

Excellent initiative, however, I dont understand whats the problem with Iran, who is opposing Pakistan's fencing plan, just like how Afghanistan did. What is their concern or fear about secure borders (in face all the borders in the world should be secured) ?

A) Are we asking them money to secure OUR border with them, just like how US asked Mexico to pay for the wall, NO.

B) Afghanistan & Iran often blame Pakistan that we export terrorism in their country, therefore, secure borders is a win-win for all parties, so why oppose the idea?

Anyways, secured border means very limited RAW and BLF activities, which eventually be uprooted (Inshallah). This of course our enemies dont want.

 

[Viking 63]

I don't understand why Iran is opposing the wall, unless they are playing a double game they should be thanking Pakistan !! If they are really concern then they should also fence border on their side as well ! But given the History of these two - Persians and Afghans can never be Trusted.

 

[Areesh]

Iran: Terrorists come from Pakistani territory and attack us

Pakistan: okay. so let's fence the border

Iran: nope. Don't do that. We oppose it. Also let us provide best medical facilities to BLF second in command

 

[El Sidd]

@BHarwana surely its fake news that Iran is protesting the fence. right?

 

[BHarwana]

@BHarwana surely its fake news that Iran is protesting the fence. right?

Hello hope you are doing fine.
About the news it being fake or not. It is a single source news and so far only Arab news had this story and could not find another source.
If you have another source please post it so that I can asses better to help you with you query of news being fake or authentic. The pdf believes that for a news to authentic it should have multiple authentic sources.

 

[BHarwana]

Disclaimer
This is pure opinion and creativity.

1. Iran being one of the first neighborhood country to recognize Pakistan after 1947 partition has no border dispute with Pakistan and has no reason to protest the fencing on bases of border dispute.

2. Iran is a sanctioned country and many industries in Iran require raw materials coming in from smuggling to support its domestic economy. For example Iran produces 95% of it pharmaceutical products the raw materials of those products are smuggled from neighboring countries like Pakistan Afghanistan UAE Iraq. If the border is closed with Pakistan many products will no longer be produced in Iran and can result in more deaths in Iran and lack of many medicines due to no availability of raw materials. So to save their own people Iran has a reason to protest against border fencing. Plus smugglers of petroleum products also use this border to push goods but that would not make Iranian govt to protest cause the volume of that smuggling is not huge and it only helps some individuals to get rich. So Iran has a big motivation of stopping the fencing due to raw materials which it cannot receive legally due to sanctions and this fence will be a big hit to Iran's pharmaceutical industry.

Now opinion if the fencing will be helpful or not. Iran has huge border with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Even if Pak-Iran border is fenced still smugglers can push goods through Afghan-Pak border as Iran can bring in and take out anything from Iran Afghanistan border. So to contain the smuggling with Iran most important part is to also completely fence that border.
Just fencing is not enough. The border has to be manned as well or smugglers will breach the fence so best option is to keep surveillance over order via UAV and GCC nations who want to contain Iran should donate few armed UAVs with nighttime flying capabilities to help with maintaining border control and restricting Iran's evil influence in the region and contain Iran. A fleet of 30 UAV should be enough.

@BHarwana surely its fake news that Iran is protesting the fence. right?

Further I have news that Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Iran had a very good conversation today via phone and border fencing issue was not raised even a single time over phone.

The trade of good via Iran Pakistan border has also started today.

They both thanked each other for their cooperation in the pandemic.

 

[El Sidd]

Further I have news that Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Iran had a very good conversation today via phone and border fencing issue was not raised even a single time over phone.

The trade of good via Iran Pakistan border has also started today.

They both thanked each other for their cooperation in the pandemic.

Even more that after lamenting lack of governance on the border for months in capitulation against the smugglers, the government in best interest of Trump today appealed to the international community to lift sanctions on Iran.

This is all midst of COVID19 if i may add.

and i just explained why the issue was not raised.

 

[YeBeWarned]

Fence won't do much in case of Iran, a lot of Pakistani's goes to Iran for Religious pilgrimage and come back with Hostilities towards Pakistan and its interest, we need to send those Shah se zayda Shah ke wafadar to Iran ..I am sure Iran can host them with ease ..