Fencing along the Durand Line will be completed only after Afghanistan’s consent, says Pak Interior Minister

Pakistan will complete the remaining fencing work along the Durand Line with the consent of Afghanistans Taliban regime, taking into account their concerns and reservations, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Friday. Earlier this month, Mawllawi Sanaullah Sangin, Commander of the Taliban, issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying it will not allow fencing in any form along the Durand Line.


PTI | Islamabad | Updated: 14-01-2022 20:59 IST | Created: 14-01-2022 20:59 IST
Fencing along the Durand Line will be completed only after Afghanistan’s consent, says Pak Interior Minister
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Pakistan will complete the remaining fencing work along the Durand Line with the consent of Afghanistan's Taliban regime, taking into account their concerns and reservations, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Friday. Pakistan has completed almost 90 per cent fencing work along the 2,670-km international border to stop an easy passage for militants. However, Afghanistan has contested the century-old British-era boundary demarcation that splits families on either side. Addressing a press conference here, Ahmad said that more than 2,600 kilometres of the border had been fenced and exuded hope that the remaining 21km would be completed ''with the consent of our brothers''. Fencing along the border has always remained a contentious issue between the two countries, and periodic skirmishes have been reported in the recent past. Last month, videos began to circulate on social media, purportedly showing members of Afghan Taliban uprooting a portion of the fence along the border, claiming that they were erected inside Afghan territory. Earlier this month, Mawllawi Sanaullah Sangin, Commander of the Taliban, issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying it will not allow fencing in any form along the Durand Line. "We (Taliban) will not allow the fencing anytime, in any form. Whatever they (Pakistan) did before, they did, but we will not allow it anymore. There will be no fencing anymore," Sangin had told Tolo News. Sangin's sharp reaction comes following Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's recent comments that this issue would be resolved peacefully, through diplomatic channels. "Certain miscreants are raising the issue unnecessarily, but we are looking into it. We are in contact with the Afghan government. Hopefully, we would be able to resolve the issue diplomatically," Qureshi had said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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