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| Pakistan Will Fence, But Not Mine, Border With Afghanistan |
By VOA News
08-February-2007
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Pakistan's foreign minister says his government has decided against mining its border with Afghanistan, but still intends to build a fence along parts of it.
Khursheed Kasuri said Pakistan initially wanted to lay mines to stop cross-border movement but decided against the plan out of respect to the sensitivity of its European colleagues.
He made the comments on Thursday at a joint news conference after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Kasuri also said he has asked Germany for help in fencing and monitoring the border.
Several countries, such as Afghanistan, and the European Union had urged Pakistan not to mine the border, saying civilian populations could be harmed.
Islamabad announced the controversial plan to fence and mine its porous border to ward off ongoing criticism from Afghanistan that Pakistan was doing little to stop militants and Taleban insurgents from staging cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.
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