Pakistan to handle cross-border traffic by 2020: Chaudhry Nisar

Pakistan to handle cross-border traffic by 2020: Chaudhry Nisar

Peshawar (Web Desk): Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar stated that Pakistan will control all traffic from Afghanistan through six devoted routes by 2020.

Nisar said while speaking at a press conference, "The border [between Afghanistan and Pakistan] stretches over more than 2,400 kilometres. We need to improve its management.”

He further added that peace between the two countries is connected. Pakistan always wants free movement between the two countries. But terrorist infiltration needs to be curbed.

Nisar also refused the existence of terrorist networks or headquarters functioning in Pakistan, claiming that terrorists have either been killed or have fled the country following the 'historic' Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

He added that certain miscreant elements were now operating from across the Pak-Afghan border. Such people sneaked across the border and made attack our citizens like cowards.

"We've always helped the Afghan people in their time of need. But terrorists took advantage of unregulated movement on our borders," Nisar said, adding that terrorists have been infiltrating Pakistan by hiding among ordinary citizens.

He also said that Afghan people entered Pakistan, in broad daylight, along many miscreants, but we kept our promise with Afghanistan not to publicise this.

“But Afghanistan does not return the gesture. Instead, they accuse us publicly of things we haven't even done," Nisar noted.

He urged the Afghan government to 'respect' the shared interests of both countries and its people, and avoid getting influenced by 'others'. "Don't play games [dictated by] others," Nisar said.

He later added that offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) as well as a visa centre would be established at the Torkham Border in the future.

"FC personnel will be employed and deployed in large numbers to uncontrolled routes that terrorists are using to sneak into Pakistan," the interior minister said. "I want to tell the people of Pakistan that the war against terrorism hasn't ended yet."

Nisar said the federal government has released Rs70 billion over the course of a year and a half to expand the Frontier Corps.