DUSHANBE, December 29, Asia-Plus – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticized Pakistan”s plans to fence and lay landmines along sections of its border with Afghanistan.
President Karzai said that the plans would only separate tribes and families, not prevent terrorism.
Pashtun tribes people live on either side of the Pakistan-Afghan border.
Afghanistan has long said the Taleban carry out cross-border attacks from Pakistan. Pakistan denies involvement in the attacks.
On Thursday, Mr. Karzai said that removing the “sanctuaries” of terrorists would be more effective than fencing or laying mines along the border.
Fencing and mining, he told a news conference, would cause people “difficulty in movement, in trade”.
United Nations officials have also criticized the plans, saying they will lead to civilian casualties.
A Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that the measures would help prevent insurgents from Pakistan crossing into Afghanistan to fight NATO forces there.
Officials say that as the fence and mines would be on the Pakistani side of the 2,430km (1,510-mile) border, an agreement with its neighbor was not needed.
Additional paramilitary troops will also be deployed along the border, they say.
