Afghanistan–Pakistan barrier

The Afghanistan–Pakistan barrier is an under-construction border barrier being built by Pakistan, that is designed to prevent Terrorism, smuggling, illegal immigration and infiltration across the border porous 2,640 km (1,640 mi) international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.[1] Major General Shaukat Sultan, former Pakistani military spokesman, said the move was necessary to block the infiltration of militants across the border.[2] The 2,400-kilometre (1,500 mi) proposed fence was initially backed by the United States.[3]

Afghanistan–Pakistan barrier
Afghanistan–Pakistan border
Pakistani soldier stand at Afghanistan Pakistan border fence in Balochistan province along the border with Afghanistan
Type	Border barrier
Site information
Controlled by	Pakistan Army Frontier Corps
Condition	Under construction
Site history
Built	24 March 2017 (2017-03-24)
Built by	Islamic Republic of Pakistan
In use	2017–present
Battles/wars	Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes

As of January 2019, 900 km (560 mi) have been completed.[4] The Afghanistan–Pakistan border is marked by 235 crossing points, many of which had been susceptible to illegal immigration. More importantly, it is designed to impede the Pakistani Taliban and Afghan Taliban from freely crossing the border and launching attacks against both governments. While the two Taliban organizations claim to be separate, Afghan Taliban leaders have been found in Pakistani refugee camps and Pakistan Taliban leaders have been found hiding from Pakistan law enforcement in Afghanistan. The project is predicted to cost at least $532 million.[5]

Fencing

In September 2005, Pakistan stated it had plans to build a 2,400-kilometre (1,500 mi) fence along its border with Afghanistan to prevent insurgents and drug smugglers slipping between the two countries. Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had subsequently offered to mine the border as well.[6][7]

The plans to fence and mine the border were again considered in 2007 and then in 2009, but they were not fully implemented. However, a 35-kilometre-long (22 mi) portion along selected border areas was fenced and the work was discontinued for lack of funds.[8] In June 2011, Major General Athar Abbas, the then spokesman for the army, said: "We did fence around 35km of the border area as it faced continuous militant incursions. It was a joint project of ISAF and Afghanistan. But then they backed out. It was a very costly project."[9] During the Musharraf period, a biometric system was installed by Pakistan on border crossings. Afghanistan had objected to the system. The bio-metric system remains intact at the border, although it is yet to be made fully functional.[10]

Afghan opposition

Main article: Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes

The Pakistani plans for mining and fencing the border were renewed on 26 December 2006, but these plans were opposed by the Afghan government, citing that the fencing would result in "the limitation of the freedom of movement of Pashtun tribes people".[11] Due to the Afghan opposition to the border fencing, the Angor Adda and Sheken areas saw a border skirmish in April 2007.[12] On 1 April 2013, the Afghan Foreign Ministry formally protested and raised 'grave concerns' over what it called "the Pakistani military's unilateral construction and physical reinforcement activities along the border in the eastern Ningarhar province".[13]

Afghanistan does not recognize the Durand Line itself as a legitimate border between it and Pakistan, as it divides the Pashtun ethnic homeland in two.[14] Afghanistan contends that the installation of a physical barrier would make this border permanent.[15]

Construction progress

In June 2016, after three years of construction, Pakistan completed a 1,100 km (680 mi) trench along the Afghan border in Balochistan province to ensure proper border-management.[16] The excavation was carried out by the Pakistani Frontier Corps. The purpose of the trench is to tighten border security by countering the flow of militants, smugglers, illegal movement and narcotics.[10] Three Balochistan construction companies were contracted to supply manpower and arrangements. The 3.4-metre-deep (11 ft) and 4.3-metre-wide (14 ft) ditch will be extended along the whole border.[17]

See also

• Afghanistan–Pakistan relations

References

1. Rahi, Arwin (21 February 2014). "Why the Durand Line Matters". The Diplomat. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
2. "Afghanistan-Pakistan: Focus on bilateral border dispute". IRIN. 30 October 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
3. "US backs Pakistani-Afghan border fence". The Guardian. 14 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
4. "'Trump-style wall': Pakistan building wall on Afghan border". Al Jazeera. 29 January 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
5. Dilawar, Ismail; Haider, Kamran (1 November 2017). "The Fence Driving a Wedge Between Pakistan and Afghanistan". Bloomberg. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
6. "Pakistan doing all it can in terror war - Musharraf". Turkish weekly. February 28, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-12-03. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday his country was doing all it could in the U.S.-led war against terrorism and offered to fence and mine its border with Afghanistan to stem Taliban infiltration. "I have been telling Karzai and the United States, 'Let us fence the border and let us mine it.' Today I say it again. Let us mine their entire border. Let us fence it. It's not difficult", Musharraf said, referring to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
7. Plett, Barbara (March 1, 2006). "Musharraf interview: Full transcript". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-12-03. Now the other thing that I've said: if he thinks everyone is crossing from here, I've been saying let us fence the border and let us also mine the border. We are experts at mining, they should mine the border on their side. We will fence it on our side. If that is all right I am for it, so that they are not allowed to go across at all. And then let us see what is happening in Afghanistan. Why don't they agree to this, I've said this openly many times before, they don't do it, for whatever are their reasons. I know how effective the fence, the Indian fence which is about 1,800 kilometres, and they are fencing the Kashmir mountains also, it is so difficult. Why are they doing that, are they mad, they are spending billions of rupees. Because it is effective. Let's fence this border so that this blame game is killed once for ever.
8. "Pakistan to mine, fence Afghan border". The Nation. June 24, 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
9. "Plan to fence, mine Afghan border". The Nation. June 23, 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
10. Shah, Syed Ali (13 September 2014). "Trench dug at Pak-Afghan border to stop infiltration of terrorists". Dawn. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
11. "Pakistan to mine and fence Afghan border". Financial Times. December 27, 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
12. "Clash erupts between Afghan, Pakistani forces over border fence". Monsters and Critics. April 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
13. "Afghanistan protests Pakistan's border 'construction, physical reinforcement'". The Express Tribune. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
14. "Karzai Orders Removal Of Pakistani Border Gate". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
15. "Pakistan progress on Afghan fence". BBC. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
16. Qaiser Butt (June 20, 2016). "1,100km trench built alongside Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
17. "Cross-border movement: Ditch along Pak-Afghan border to cost Rs14 billion". The Express Tribune. January 3, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-01-03. Retrieved January 3, 2015.