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Islamabad to go ahead with border fencing plan
By Mujahid Ali, Correspondent

Karachi: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced yesterday that Pakistan would place landmines and selectively fence its border with Afghanistan to stop the infiltration of militants.

Pakistan's decision ignored bitter objections raised by Kabul over this controversial plan.

"We will do selective mining and fencing [along Pakistan's Afghan border] to discourage elements which pose security problem," Aziz told a news conference held in Karachi at Governor's House.

Aziz has reiterated Pakistan's resolve to go ahead with the plan despite bitter opposition from Kabul, which says that it would divide the Pashtun tribes living on both sides of the Durand line.

Pakistani rights groups have also strongly objected to the mining saying Islamabad should join other nations to ban the production and the use of the landmines altogether. But Aziz said that every one was free to hold their views, but Pakistan would act in its national interest.

Allegations

Pakistan plans to start the fencing and mining of its border with Afghanistan later this month against the back drop of allegations from Kabul that it was not doing enough to curb Taliban activities.

A senior Pakistan official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Kabul's demands that Pakistan should stop infiltration and its opposition to fencing and mining were contradictory. "Afghan President Hamid Karzai has failed to address the internal problems of his country and by blaming Pakistan he is trying to find a scapegoat," he said.

Aziz said Pakistan wants good relations with all the regional countries and was trying its best to promote peace and stability.

He said Pakistan remains opposed to nuclear proliferation, but does not oppose the right of any country to acquire it for peaceful purposes.

Aziz said his government would continue with its tried and tested political and economic policies and reforms in 2007 and would relentlessly work for the solution of protracted Kashmir problem with India.

Aziz promised that his government will bring further improvement in the standard of living of the masses and strive to reduce poverty, create more jobs and improve the economy.

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1) Islamabad to go ahead with border fencing plan