ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Thursday informed the Senate that Pakistan has deployed 183,000 troops on Pak-Afghan border besides enhanced border patrolling and aerial surveillance to stop cross border infiltration.
Replying to a question during Question Hour, the minister said that border management was a big issue as hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Pak-Afghan border. Efforts were being made to settle the issue mutually with Afghan government, he added.
The minister said primarily it is for Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate and asses the possible political and geo-strategic impact on Pak-Afghan border security after US Army’s exit from Afghanistan in the near future. However, he said Pak Army is fully prepared and vigilant to handle technical aspects of Pak-Afghan border security after US Army’s exit from Afghanistan.
Asif said that local tribesmen were also incorporated in border security systems through mobilizing local ‘Lashkars’ and ‘Amman’ Committees. FC, Levies and Khasadars were also incorporated to man joint posts and patrol infrequent routes, dominate critical spaces and re-investigating intelligence activity, he said.
Source: APP