Spike in terrorist attacks: Pakistan expedites fencing Afghan border

[Kabira]

ISLAMABAD - The recent string of terrorist attacks has pushed Pakistan to expedite fencing of its 2,611 kilometres long porous border with Afghanistan in an effort to forestall attacks in future.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Major General Asif Ghafoor, “Pakistan has decided to completely fence its border with Afghanistan in two phases. In the first phase, fence will be built in the most sensitive areas.”

Fencing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border commenced in earlier March after series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, which were believed to have been planned on the Afghan soil and carried out by Pakistani Taliban groups operating out from Afghanistan.

"A secure Pak-Afghan border is in [the] common interest of both countries and a well-coordinated border security mechanism is essential for enduring peace and stability," a statement issued by the ISPR said.

Both Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, which border Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces have seen a frequent spike in attacks, including ones by banned militants groups Jamaatul Ahrar and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In the first phase, high infiltration prone border areas in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies are being fenced, said the military’s media wing.

Whereas in the second phase, fencing of the remaining border areas, including Balochistan, will be executed.

Besides fencing, the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are constructing new forts and border posts to improve surveillance and “defencibility”.

“A secure Pak-Afghan border is in common interest of both the countries and a well-coordinated border security mechanism is essential for enduring peace and stability,” the ISPR stated.

A security official said that a 2,611km long border — 1,230km in K-P and 1,381 in Balochistan— with Afghanistan would be fenced.

Of 1,230 in K-P, 237km high infiltration prone areas of Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies are being fenced in the first phase. So far, 43 border posts and forts have been constructed, while another 63 border posts and forts are under construction, he added.

As many as 338 border posts and forts are in the pipeline, which will be completed by 2019.

The fencing is part of the new border mechanism Pakistan has started implementing last year to check the infiltration of terrorists.

Apart from fencing, Pakistan no longer allows people without a valid passport and visa to enter the country through key crossing points.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been simmering for many months.

Both sides accused the other of turning a blind eye towards the militant groups operating along their shared border.
http://nation.com.pk/national/03-Jul-2017/pakistan-expedites-fencing-afghan-border

 

[pakdefender]

God speed

 

[AUz]

Other than fence and border posts---build UAV/UCAVs bases across Afghanistan border as well...and have it under surveillance 24/7 from now on.

Pakistan should also allocate two squadrons of JF-17s in future with night attack capability to Afghanistan border, in case of any emergency. We should be able to deploy our airpower to our Western flank as quickly as possible in case of any mass attack or infiltration bid.

Time to make our Islamic Republic a fortified castle #CastlePakistan

 

[Counterpunch]

About time. As the second phase of break-Pakistan is in progress with US and its lackeys beefing up ISIS/AQIS to do the dirty job. We are well prepared to take them on HEAD-ON!

 

[Mumm-Ra]

Does anyone here see the irony. We complained to the US that the border is porous and we can't do anything about it but now we are allocating precious resources on fencing it ourselves to control the flow. Should have done it when uncle Sam asked us to it. At least we might have made the Americans foot the bill for this entire thing.

 

[Path-Finder]

need the kind of electronic surveillance which Turkey has deployed on its border with Syria is what we need radars and cameras.

 

[Khanate]

Other than fence and border posts---build UAV/UCAVs bases across Afghanistan border as well...and have it under surveillance 24/7 from now on.

Pakistan should also allocate two squadrons of JF-17s in future with night attack capability to Afghanistan border, in case of any emergency. We should be able to deploy our airpower to our Western flank as quickly as possible in case of any mass attack or infiltration bid.

Time to make our Islamic Republic a fortified castle #CastlePakistan

United States is unable to stop people crossing its border illegally with all the financial / technological might on largely arid plains. What hope does Pakistan have on a terrain that is much more harsh and minus all the money and tech?

Here's what the US-Mexico border looks like, in certain areas:

Pakistan's "fence":

All you need to get through this "fence" is a bolt cutter. The small bolt cutter in this picture would do the job:

The only positive here is that we are taking border management seriously for the first time. That is the only positive here. The rest is a cat and mouse game which the most determined terrorist, smuggler, drug trafficker, etc. will be able to overcome.

 

[Kabira]

United States is unable to stop people crossing its border illegally with all the financial / technological might on largely arid plains. What hope does Pakistan have on a terrain that is much more harsh and minus all the money and tech?

Here's what the US-Mexico border looks like, in certain areas:

Pakistan's "fence":

All you need to get through this "fence" is a bolt cutter. The small bolt cutter in this picture would do the job:

The only positive here is that we are taking border management seriously for the first time. That is the only positive here. The rest is a cat and mouse game which the most determined terrorist, smuggler, drug trafficker, etc. will be able to overcome.

Ofcourse anyone desperate enough can get through. But idea is to manage border, not allowing afghans without visas, arrest afghanis without visas and put them in jail etc Will prevent unregulated movement of people.

 

[Mo12]

Shouldnt pakistan be fencing india border too?

 

[AUz]

Shouldnt pakistan be fencing india border too?

We have a 700,000+ massive military deployed there to keep the savages from our east out. So no, we doing fine with india.

Afghanistan border doesn't have same troop concentration, and hence border management becomes a necessity

 

[Ajaxpaul]

Shouldnt pakistan be fencing india border too?

Fencing is not in pakistan interest...How would they push what I call them - failures into India ?

 

[Ocean]

Shouldnt pakistan be fencing india border too?

We trust our indian brothers that they will never attack us from eastern border but rather will do from western side, so we are fencing afgan pak border.

 

[khanasifm]

Ofcourse anyone desperate enough can get through. But idea is to manage border, not allowing afghans without visas, arrest afghanis without visas and put them in jail etc Will prevent unregulated movement of people.

This picture is torkhum border crossing which is 24x7 manned and does not need elaborate fence the fencing at actual border is better with two layers and in some places preceded by a 10-15 feet wide and deep ditch I think pictures can be found at ispr site anyway Fencing is just to deter and delay would need additional sensors and patrols along with it but there is no 100% coverage if US can not with all might and money do it with Mexico which is pretty plain and no mountains and other difficulties I doubt pak can 100 it's just to delay and deter

India has similar arrangement on its side and they still cannot or at least keep complaining of cross border ...

 

[Pakistansdefender]

The time for statements like 'pakistan is going to built ' is over. We have wasted so so much time. This is the 1st priority of any good leadership, but both civil and military leaders show no interest in the past.
It is going to give not only Timely benefit but also benefits you in the long run. There is not going to be peace in afghanistan for a long long time sadly. Better close our borders.
Along these borders we need them to be:
1) heavily mined .
2) have advanced sensors to track any movement.
3) a border guard force, specifically designed to guard the border.
4) post a every interval.
5) modern visa centres at every crossing to check and keep record of every Afghan entering pakistan . And if not returned in time, then must be deported.
Don't wait for another accident. Better safe than sorry. This is where India attack us in real.

 

[tarrar]

Fencing & heavily mining the border is shat is needed, apart from that border patrolling & using of armed drones is needed.

We also have to keep in our mind that Afghan refugee is a national security issue & all the refugees should be licked out of Pakistan to protect & save Pakistan.