ISLAMABAD (NNI): Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that Islamabad and Tehran have agreed to set up four border�check posts, two each on Pakistani and Iranian sides of the Pakistan-Iran border in Taftan region.


Talking to reporters in Islamabad, Malik said that Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar would visit Pakistan soon to finalize modalities in this regard. He said that duty free trade zones would also be established near the check posts.

The Pakistani interior minister said that nobody without legal documents, including a visa or permit would be allowed to cross Pakistan-Afghanistan border as of March 8.

'Afghanistan did not cooperate to check illegal crossing of the border despite repeated requests from Pakistan. Now we have decided to pursue a strict check to control smuggling and drug trafficking from across the border,' he said.

Responding to a question on US defence secretary nominee Chuck Hagel's statement that India was financing problems for Pakistan from Afghanistan, Rehman Malik said he had asked President Hamid Karzai and Indian authorities to clear their positions on the matter.

The Pakistani minister said Pakistan was a friend of Afghanistan which has always supported and raised voice at all fora in favor of Afghanistan. 'I ask Afghanistan to clear its position that it is not involved in any terrorist activity. We have done the best on our part. I hope proper clarification would be issued, otherwise I would demand apology from both India and Afghanistan,' he added.

Rehman Malik said he would prove that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was involved in bomb blasts and target killings in Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and other areas.

'It is proved that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the Taliban have links with each other and they are trying to destabilize Pakistan through terrorist activities,' he said.

Malik said Punjab government has never requested for putting the name of Ishaq Malik on Exit Control List (ECL). Ishaq Malik is number one of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

The Minister said Ishaq Malik is involved in 32 criminal cases and added it seemed that Punjab police were providing protection to him as he was continuing his activities.

By The Frontier Post

 

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