JALALABAD, Jan 7 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Following the Afghan government, the anti-government Taliban also rejected the border-fencing proposal and said it would separate the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan living on the two sides of the Durand Line.

In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban spokesman Dr Hanif dubbed the border fencing proposal as a conspiracy hatched by the imperialists.

He said their movement had roots in the masses and Taliban would resist each and every measure which is not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan.

The imperialists wanted to achieve their nefarious designs by using Pakistan, said Hanif while referring to the fencing and mining of the border.

He said fencing the border was tantamount to changing the destinies of the people of the two countries, and Pakistan was doing so at the behest of the 'infidel forces'.

Regarding the strong opposition by the Afghan government to the border fencing proposal, Hanif said the government had its own axe to grind.

The Karzai-led government is covertly supporting the idea and its opposition to the fencing proposal was superficial, said the spokesman. He added Shaukat Aziz's statement, terming his trip to Kabul as successful, bear testimony to the fact.

He claimed decision about the border fencing was taken during a meeting among US President George Bush, President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf in Washington in September last year.

Asked if Pakistan started the unilateral fencing of the border, Hanif said people of the two countries would not allow them to erect the fence or plant mines on the border.

Abdul Mueed Hashmi

dk