PESHAWAR: The Pak-Afghan border had been fully secured after completion of fencing, establishment of new forts and placement of technical surveillance system equipped with drones to check unwanted elements.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Frontier Corps North Sajid Majeed said at a briefing to national and foreign media that 98 percent fencing and 388 new forts had been completed on 2,611 kilometres border with Afghanistan, which had bolstered security on the border. Out of 827 kilometres border area in KP, fencing on 802km has been completed. Out of 443 forts, 388 have been completed and the remaining 55 would be completed by December this year.
The DIG FC said movement of people from authorised crossing border terminals including Torkham has been allowed and only those carrying valid travel documents were permitted. He said no major refugee influx has been witnessed from Afghanistan following fall of Kabul rather Afghan refugees living in Pakistan were going back to their country in a substantial number these days.
Sajid Majeed the security situation had significantly improved in merged areas and patrolling of troops was enhanced at Pakistan side.
Besides erection of the long fence and construction of new forts, watch towers, pickets, bunkers, tracks, drone, radars and other surveillance technologies were placed under an inclusive border management mechanism, which has significantly reduced infiltration of unwanted elements from across the border. He said increase in security check posts, use of night vision sights’ technology and deployment of additional troops has helped in protecting the long border.
Brig Sajid said millions of development projects had been initiated in merged areas for socio-economic development of people with special focus on education, health, roads and clean drinking water. He said development projects worth Rs3 billion were launched in Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand tribal districts.
Col Tanveer said four borders terminals in KP and one in Balochistan have been completed, which are being used for trade, business and pedestrian movement between both the countries under legal visa mechanism. He said tourism was being promoted in the scenic Orakzai district to create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty, and mega water supply scheme was launched in Mohmand.
Col Tanveer said Sahktu Corridor in South Waziristan has been completed and a number of model schools and roads projects in Kurram and other tribal districts were built.
Commandant Khyber Rifles Colonel Rizwan said Torkhm border was fully operational round the clock where regulated moment of people travelling with visa documents and cargo trucks was underway.
Later, famous Khattak dance was presented that impressed the national and foreign journalists at Khyber Rifles Landikotal.
