Constructing a permanent fence on the Chamman-Spin Boldak border will bring major change to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Muhemmed Aejaz, the additional secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia at the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Sputnik.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 10th November, 2018) Constructing a permanent fence on the Chamman-Spin Boldak border will bring major change to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Muhemmed Aejaz, the additional secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia at the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Sputnik.
"We believe that once we do it will practically bring a major change in the Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relationship because once we have completed this project the movement of people and economic and trade goals, and all other things, will be very regulated which is the need. They will hopefully go through the designated crossing points," Aejaz said.
The Chamman-Spin Boldak border crossing is located on the Kandahar-Quetta road. The checkpoint was closed on October 14 following a clash between the two countries' military that sparked when the Pakistani soldiers started building the fence. At least three Pakistani servicemen were reported killed in the standoff, but the Pakistani authorities denied that there had been any casualties.
Work to build the fence is ongoing and the installation is expected to be completed by early 2020, according Aejaz.
"I don't have the exact time frame for that because there are operational difficulties, it is, frankly speaking, very difficult terrain, mountain ranges, and all that, but our military is very determined to complete it as soon as possible. At least we hope that by the end of next year or maybe early 2020 we should be able to achieve it," he said.
According to the official, the porous border has been one of the issues dampening the Afghan-Pakistani relations and the permanent fence should solve the problem of unhindered movement of members of terrorist groups.
