TORKHAM (Pak-Afghan border) - Pakistan Army has completed the gigantic task of erecting barbed fence along the entire Pak-Afghan border to ensure there is no illegal cross-border movement and infiltration of terrorists from across the border making Pakistan secure.

“Only 10 percent work is left in the Chitral sector which is expected to be completed by next month,” Major Abdullah, Commanding Officer Big bin post, told The Nation at Big bin post located at Torkham and 5,000 feet above the sea level.

At this historic post one can see not only movement at the Pak-Afghanistan Torkham border but could also see the highway towards Afghan city of Jalalabad. Most high tech equipment has been placed at the post to monitor the nearby border.

A group of journalists were toured along various sectors of the border with Afghanistan by the local officers of the Khyber Rifles, a wing of the Pakistan army which looks after Torkham border and areas which are close to it.

Major Abdullah, who has spent his time earlier at various toughest postings in KP and LoC, was confident in saying that it would be impossible for anyone to cross over the border from any location. Officers and soldiers while talking to The Nation at the post said although they were away from their families on the festive occasion of the Eid Ul Azha, they are happy that they are on duty to protect the motherland at the border.

“The border fencing is regularly monitored through patrolling along with fencing and high range all-weather cameras installed at various posts”, Major Abdullah said. To a question, Major Abdullah said fencing has a very positive impact on security and economy of the country. He said due to the fencing, illegal trade which was negative for the economy has been halted and the security situation has significantly improved. 

Talking about the challenges, Major Abdullah said extremely cold weather at a number of locations was the toughest challenge for the army in erecting the fence but that challenge has also been met and the fence could be visible at snow-covered mountains.

He said due to the evolving security situation across the border, the fencing has made Pakistan safer. “We don’t see the possibility of any sort of crossing from the Afghanistan side due to the strong fence”, Major Abdullah said.

At Torkham border, Pakistan Army officer Captain Muhammad Hasan Abbas in a briefing gave details about the security arrangements made at the historic border crossing between the two countries.

“In case of any untoward incident at the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham, all the six gates between the two countries could be closed within one minute”, Captain Muhammad Hasan Abbas said.

He said most modern equipment has been placed at the Torkham border to check the immigrants from Afghanistan and returning Afghan immigrants from Pakistan.

Captain Abbas said for trade purposes an integrated transit trade management system has been placed at the border which allows 900 vehicles to cross over to Afghanistan after checking all formalities.

During the erection of the fencing, Pakistan Army troops faced a number of cross-border attacks but such attacks did not deter their resolve and they continued their mission.