Pakistan spends around $483 million to build chain-link fences along its porous 1,500-mile border

[Mian]

ANGUR ADDA, Pakistan — Pakistan is spending around $483 million to build chain-link fences along its porous 1,500-mile border with Afghanistan.

The project aims to curtail the flow of terrorists between the two countries. It follows a yearslong Pakistani military push aimed at dismantling militant networks in its restive tribal North and South Waziristan regions.

“For the better security of our country and nation, we had to do this work,” a Pakistani army official, Brig. Nisar, who uses only one name, told journalists during a government-organized visit to the border this month.

The barrier has angered the Afghan government, which disputes the location of the boundary and says the fence will tear communities apart.

Construction began last year on two fences that parallel each other as they snake through the remote, mountainous landscape. Standing 13 feet high on the Afghan side and 11 feet on the Pakistani side, sharp spirals of silver barbed wire are cradled at the top of each.

Additional coils of barbed wire have been placed on the ground in the gap between the fences, which are dotted with Pakistani military towers.

The military says it will have 92 percent of the national border fenced before the end of 2019.

However, only three miles of the 789-mile stretch of the border along the remote southwestern province of Balochistan has been fenced so far, according to a military official who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity.

Beyond Balochistan, Pakistani authorities said the other part of the fence, including the portion visited by NBC News, would eventually total 516 miles in length. Around 146 miles of that stretch has been completed, according to officials.

Some parts of the border will not be fenced as they are too mountainous.

Pakistan alleges that Islamic State terrorists are using Afghan territory to plan attacks and accuses Kabul of not doing enough to secure the border.

Pakistani security officials told NBC News that while Pakistan has 64 security fortifications and posts in one 112-mile stretch of the border, Afghanistan has built only eight.

Afghanistan has long disputed the location the border, which was established by British colonizers in 1893.

“The current border is not accepted throughout history. This is a critical issue,” said Mohammad Yaqub Ahmad Zai, Afghanistan’s deputy minister of border and tribal affairs.

One of the main concerns for Afghanistan, however, is that the project will separate families and rip apart communities who have been able to cross freely for centuries.

“Tribes living on both sides are brothers,” Zai said. “They are one family. You can’t separate them by fencing.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-building-fence-along-border-afghanistan-n873291

 

[Mian]

There is going to be a wall on the Af-Pak border.

Pak will pay for it.

The Army will build it.

The Frontier Corps will man it.

And Kabul won’t like it.

(copied)

 

[guvi]

good fences make good neighbors.

 

[ahmedzee]

Well, it is the right move. I wonder why Afghan govt disapproves this. They are the ones pointing fingers at Pakistan "sending terrorists" to Afghanistan. So the fenced border will help them, isn't it.

Maybe the reason they are upset is, their indian masters would find it hard in their proxy war against Pakistan through Afghanistan.

 

[moghul]

Good job, money well spent. Should have one way gates on it to let Afghanis still in Pakistan leave.

 

[PakLFC]

We need to keep Afghans out of Pakistan. This wall will also stop people from Pak the Afghans accuse of terrorism from entering Afghanistan.

 

[Waseem]

Money well spent, this might have saved hundreds of lives already stopping movement of terrorists.

I can't understand why it upsets Afghanistan? I thought they would want this much more than Pakistan??

 

[PakLFC]

Money well spent, this might have saved hundreds of lives already stopping movement of terrorists.

I can't understand why it upsets Afghanistan? I thought they would want this much more than Pakistan??

The Afghans don't know what they want. They have no idea of what is happening in their country. In such the easiest thing to do is blame Pakistan for everything. It upsets them because they believe that KPK and the tribal area's are part of Afghanistan It may have been in ancient times but is not anymore, only a complete nutcase living in that region would want to be a part of a completely lawless jungle that is Afghanistan.

 

[gkb101277867]

Yet when trump does it he's ridiculed lol. Too many double standards

 

[HussainRx8]

Money well spent, this might have saved hundreds of lives already stopping movement of terrorists.

I can't understand why it upsets Afghanistan? I thought they would want this much more than Pakistan??

A little history would help. Afghans do not accept Durand Line, the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

[Waseem]

A little history would help. Afghans do not accept Durand Line, the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

I do know that history, what is more important for them right now? Borders or precious lives of thousands of people?

 

[moghul]

The Afghans don't know what they want. They have no idea of what is happening in their country. In such the easiest thing to do is blame Pakistan for everything. It upsets them because they believe that KPK and the tribal area's are part of Afghanistan It may have been in ancient times but is not anymore, only a complete nutcase living in that region would want to be a part of a completely lawless jungle that is Afghanistan.

When it comes to blaming Pakistan, both BD and Afghanistan don't think much, they do what India wants them to do.

 

[moghul]

A little history would help. Afghans do not accept Durand Line, the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Lol, they can't take care of the land they have and they want more. Just trying to cause trouble in Pakistan to please India, nothing more.

 

[Varun]

When it comes to blaming Pakistan, both BD and Afghanistan don't think much, they do what India wants them to do.

It's a serious knock on Pakistan's diplomats over the years that they've lost Afghanistan to Indian arms.

Afghanistan especially should have been a natural cordial ally of Pakistan and yet here we are.

 

[Mian]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] Afghanistan never accepted Pakistan after the creation and was always creating issues for us even back in 50s and 60s

 

[Varun]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] Afghanistan never accepted Pakistan after the creation and was always creating issues for us even back in 50s and 60s

Only the #493rd example that the mythical Ummah is in fact, a myth.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Only the #493rd example that the mythical Ummah is in fact, a myth.

The governments and rulers of muslim majority countries are not united, if that is what you idea of the Ummah is. But Ummah exists among the people, many of whom may be powerless to bring changes against their nations policies. You will see this brotherhood when muslims from different countries meet and get together as if they were lost brothers, nothing in common between them except Islam.

But don't miss an opportunity to take a dig.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Yet when trump does it he's ridiculed lol. Too many double standards

I don't recall any Mexicans crossing the border to kill people in the US. Not to mention that Trump himself is the descendant of European settlers who threw the original inhabitants out so it is a bit rich he now wants to build a fence to keep the Mexicans out of what used to be their land.

 

[Syed1]

It's a serious knock on Pakistan's diplomats over the years that they've lost Afghanistan to Indian arms.

Afghanistan especially should have been a natural cordial ally of Pakistan and yet here we are.

When Pakistan was formed in 1947 the only country to vote against its formation in the UN was Afghanistan, heck even India voted in favor.

 

[HussainRx8]

I do know that history, what is more important for them right now? Borders or precious lives of thousands of people?

Don't get me wrong, I share your opinion. My point was to introduce some historical context.

 

[moghul]

It's a serious knock on Pakistan's diplomats over the years that they've lost Afghanistan to Indian arms.

Afghanistan especially should have been a natural cordial ally of Pakistan and yet here we are.

I confess , you guys beat us by spending more money on them than we could have.

 

[Varun]

You will see this brotherhood when muslims from different countries meet and get together as if they were lost brothers, nothing in common between them except Islam.

It's fair enough that you phrased your sentence in future tense, as such is not the case at the moment.

When Pakistan was formed in 1947 the only country to vote against its formation in the UN was Afghanistan, heck even India voted in favor.

Can you elaborate on the reasons why this was the case?

I confess , you guys beat us by spending more money on them than we could have.

Money wouldn't have worked in isolation, but merely as a catalyst to underlying ruptures that may have existed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the first place.

 

[moghul]

It's fair enough that you phrased your sentence in future tense, as such is not the case at the moment.



Can you elaborate on the reasons why this was the case?



Money wouldn't have worked in isolation, but merely as a catalyst to underlying ruptures that may have existed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the first place.

Never mind we gave them shelter, food and education for three decades when they were expelled from their own land by Russians.

 

[Varun]

Never mind we gave them shelter, food and education for three decades when they were expelled from their own land by Russians.

It sounds like Afghanistan : Pakistan :: Bangladesh : India.

We are also building a fence on our border to boot.

 

[Slog]

I don't recall any Mexicans crossing the border to kill people in the US. Not to mention that Trump himself is the descendant of European settlers who threw the original inhabitants out so it is a bit rich he now wants to build a fence to keep the Mexicans out of what used to be their land.

Do you not get the irony of yor statement?

Do you not know that loony Afghanis claim that Pakistani land west of the Indus is historically 'their land'? You are putting forward the same argument in regards to Mexicans here..

And lol who decides whose land it was?

Finally illegal Mexican aliens have been convicted of crimes several times so your recollection is wrong or maybe it's pure ignorance.

 

[moghul]

Do you not get the irony of yor statement?

Do you not know that loony Afghanis claim that Pakistani land west of the Indus is historically 'their land'? You are putting forward the same argument in regards to Mexicans here..

And lol who decides whose land it was?

Finally illegal Mexican aliens have been convicted of crimes several times so your recollection is wrong or maybe it's pure ignorance.

All Mexicans come to USA for economical reason 100%, a few of them get in criminal activities like every other ethnic group. In post-Russia era , Afghanis enter Pakistan mainly to commit crimes and terrorism

 

[ExpressPacer]

Good. Was needed. Have said this for ages and my understanding for Trump's ideologies stems from this very situation that has troubled the lives of innocent Pakistani's for the last 3 decades.

To hell with the Muslim brethren, to hell with the lives of these ungrateful criminals who have done nothing but terrorize our towns, kill our women and children, spread their religious fundamentalism and and on top of that, destroyed our economy. It is about time we cut all trade and political relations with a land-locked country that merely exists because of Pakistani support to begin with.

To put it precisely, as Gen. Musharraf put it; Pakistan comes first.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

All Mexicans come to USA for economical reason 100%, a few of them get in criminal activities like every other ethnic group. In post-Russia era , Afghanis enter Pakistan mainly to commit crimes and terrorism

Precisely. Bit of a stretch to compare Mexicans with terrorists - not that I would accuse Afghans of being terrorists, but the open border has allowed those with an evil agenda to strike at Pakistan whether that's Afghans themselves or some other interested party sponsoring them.

 

[Slog]

All Mexicans come to USA for economical reason 100%, a few of them get in criminal activities like every other ethnic group. In post-Russia era , Afghanis enter Pakistan mainly to commit crimes and terrorism

Precisely. Bit of a stretch to compare Mexicans with terrorists - not that I would accuse Afghans of being terrorists, but the open border has allowed those with an evil agenda to strike at Pakistan whether that's Afghans themselves or some other interested party sponsoring them.

Those are fairly stupid arguments and Captain is contradicting himself in the first sentence anyway. And he hasn't really addressed the issue whereby if it's okay for Mexicans to claim American lands then by same logic it's okay for Afgans to claim Pakistani lands...

I'm hardly a well wisher of Afghans but even I know majority of Afghans come to Pakistan with no malintention as do majority of Mexicans to the US. Both are committing illegal acts though.

 

[IAJ]

Why is there so much hate for Afghanis here? Their gov could be bad alright, but the common Afghani must be peace loving like any other human.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The comparisons with Mexicans and the Trump wall is foolish to say the least. 30,000 + people have been killed in not much over a decade due to the terrorists having safe havens in Afghanistan and crossing into Pakistan. USA has over 12 million illegal Mexican immigrants and most are not criminals but work to help their economy.

Good idea from Pakistan but it's impossible to man such a long border and it's not too difficult to get this this fence.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Why is there so much hate for Afghanis here? Their gov could be bad alright, but the common Afghani must be peace loving like any other human.

Its usually the self proclaimed enlightened liberals in Pakistan. Sometimes I wonder if they even know the meaning of liberalism. Afghans have been suffering for a century due to occupiers on and off. They are one of the poorest people on the planet, Pakistan has to defend itself but the hate should be directed at the Afghan ruling government and it's foreign backers , the Indians and Yanks who want terrorism to plague Pakistan but these liberals wont say a word against them but attack the average Afghan.

 

[moghul]

Mexican and really nice people and very hardworking and we here in US depend upon them a lot for domestic work. Economy will suffer a lot if they are stopped from coming to US. Pakistan doesn't need Afghanis for anything.

 

[coy0607]

Well, it is the right move. I wonder why Afghan govt disapproves this. They are the ones pointing fingers at Pakistan "sending terrorists" to Afghanistan. So the fenced border will help them, isn't it.

Maybe the reason they are upset is, their indian masters would find it hard in their proxy war against Pakistan through Afghanistan.

From the article above, it sounds like they're more upset about the location of the fence / border

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Those are fairly stupid arguments and Captain is contradicting himself in the first sentence anyway. And he hasn't really addressed the issue whereby if it's okay for Mexicans to claim American lands then by same logic it's okay for Afgans to claim Pakistani lands...

I'm hardly a well wisher of Afghans but even I know majority of Afghans come to Pakistan with no malintention as do majority of Mexicans to the US. Both are committing illegal acts though.

But I didn't say it was okay for Mexicans to claim American land, I said it was a bit rich for the descendants of European settlers to be building a wall to keep out the original inhabitants. As for the fence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, we managed fine without it all these years, it wouldn't be necessary if it wasn't for third party interests using the porous border to launch devastating attacks on the Pakistani side. That is where I draw the line with the comparison with Mexicans who are economic migrants who have played a large part in the prosperity of America.

 

[Slim]

It's a serious knock on Pakistan's diplomats over the years that they've lost Afghanistan to Indian arms.

Afghanistan especially should have been a natural cordial ally of Pakistan and yet here we are.

You do realize Afghanistan never had cordial relations with us since our independence? They were one of those who didnt even recognize us when we got independent.

Afghans have always been hostile to Pakistan; its our bad luck that we got stuck with them as neighbours.

 

[Slim]

Good. Was needed. Have said this for ages and my understanding for Trump's ideologies stems from this very situation that has troubled the lives of innocent Pakistani's for the last 3 decades.

To hell with the Muslim brethren, to hell with the lives of these ungrateful criminals who have done nothing but terrorize our towns, kill our women and children, spread their religious fundamentalism and and on top of that, destroyed our economy. It is about time we cut all trade and political relations with a land-locked country that merely exists because of Pakistani support to begin with.

To put it precisely, as Gen. Musharraf put it; Pakistan comes first.

Gen Musharraf always put his own interests before Pakistan, though. He is a traitor.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Gen Musharraf always put his own interests before Pakistan, though. He is a traitor.

Care to elaborate?