Pakistani forces set posts on Afghan soil

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Pakistani security forces set checkpoints 50 metres inside the Spin Boldak district of southern Kandahar province, officials alleged on Tuesday.

The Pakistanis established four posts 50 metres inside Afghanistan in Wesh area near Chaman in 2011, the governor’s spokesman, Javed Faisal, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He claimed previously there had been only one Pakistani post known as “Iqbal” on the Chaman border crossing, but later three more were established on Afghan soil.

The Iqbal post had been expanded 50 metre into Afghanistan and the three others 18, 25 and 30 metres, said the gubernatorial spokesman, who said the central government had been contacted time and again on the issue.

The claim follows a visit to Kandahar by Maj. Gen. Gul Nabi Ahmadzai, commander of the 505the Spin Ghar police zone. He said Afghan border police, deserting their posts along the Pakistani border, had been moved to Kandahar City for maintaining security.

He feared the desertion could threaten security in Afghan border areas.

Kandahar police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, confirmed Pakistan.

Border police were relocated to Kandahar City after Raziq, who is also responsible for security in border districts, was appointed as Kandahar police chief.

Kandahar shares a 441-kilometre border with Pakistan. Its districts, including Maroof, Khorwak, Registan, Spin Boldak and Arghistan, lie near the border.

Residents claim tensions have often been high between border guards over controlling the border and stemming the flow of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants, who stage attacks inside Afghanistan.

ma/mud

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