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Afghanistan Unaware Pakistan Closing Border, Wants Proper Treatment of Refugees

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 6 September

[Presenter] Government spokesman Abdol Karim Rahimi told a news conference today that the government of Afghanistan has asked Pakistan to take into consideration the provisions of the trilateral agreement signed between the UNHCR and the governments of the two countries when making decisions about the expulsion of Afghan refugees.

[Rahimi] We do not want Afghan refugee children, old men and women to face problems when they are expelled or displaced.

[Correspondent] Pakistan has repeatedly warned Afghan refugees that they must return to their own country or leave specific areas of that country. This has increased concerns among a large number of refugees.

According to another report, a Pakistani military official has announced that they have closed the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to prevent the flow of Taleban fighters across the border.

In addition, a Pakistani newspaper says tight security measures will be taken in several other Pakistani cities bordering on Afghanistan.

Mohammad Akram, a Pakistani border police commander, has reported that they have set up hidden cameras and are carrying out military patrols supported by helicopters on their border with Afghanistan.

Also, the use of arms by members of border tribes has been prohibited and those who violate this law will be prosecuted.

But officials of the Afghan Border Affairs Ministry say they are not aware of any closure of the border between the two countries.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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