Pak, Afghanistan Deploy Troops, Tanks In Border Fencing Dispute

Pakistan and Afghanistan have deployed tanks and armored personnel carriers along the Torkham border after negotiations to resolve border fencing dispute failed.

The two countries have locked horns over the issue of fencing of some points at the border. Pakistan has started fencing some vulnerable points of the border with Afghanistan to plug illegal and secret border crossings and movements of people, Dawn reported citing unnamed political administration sources as saying Friday.

The sources said that Pakistan sent army troops and additional Khasadar Force and Frontier Corps personnel on the border on Thursday in retaliation to Afghanistan’s reinforcement of its troops and border security forces along the border.

Afghanistan has objected to the border fencing and officially protested to Pakistan over the issue. Because of the tense situation, the border remained closed for the third consecutive day.