Dutch backing for fencing proposal

The POST, Sun, November,12, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

While talking to the visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Dr Bernard Bot, the Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshed Mahmood Kasuri stressed the need for sealing the Pak-Afghan border. Not only his Dutch counterpart appreciated welcomed Pakistan’s suggestion but also stressed that he would discuss it with his NATO partners. Later a spokesman of Dutch foreign Ministry stated that the issue of sealing this border would indeed be brought up at the NATO conference scheduled for 28^th November at Riga.

This is not the first time that the Pakistani authorities have suggested to seal the border. Periodically suggestions to fence the border have been advanced by the Pakistanis but each time these have been rejected by the Afghan regime. This main difference this time appears to be the existence of tacit recognition that the Karazai regime is unable to prevent infiltration neither from their side nor they are able to check infiltrators crossing the border from Pakistani side.

The recognition of the dire need to seal the Pak-Afghan border by the Dutch Foreign Minister is not influenced by the existence of 1700 Dutch troops in Afghanistan. It reflects the realistic assessment of the ground realities by the visiting dignitary. Even the main supporters of the Karazai regime the Americans are beginning to issue somewhat guarded statements regarding the inability of Kabul regime to cope effectively with situation inside Afghanistan. This is something which most Pakistani analysts have been highlighting somewhat regularly. The recent assessment by the CIA clearly reflects that increasing number of Afghans viewed Karazai government as corrupt, failing to deliver promised reconstruction, and too weak to protect its citizens.

Once again Pakistan has expressed its willingness to fence the border in order to effectively check the alleged infiltrations. The Afghan regime has been consistently disapproving all Pakistani suggestions aimed at sealing the border. However this time it is not just Pakistan who repeated its earlier suggestions of sealing the border but an important contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan has not just shown interests in the proposal but has also welcomed it. There is no doubt that the proposal would benefit Pakistan, Afghanistan and NATO’s operations inside Afghanistan. The Pakistanis felt vindicated that the merits of the proposal are now being recognized by other members of international community.

The Pak-Afghan border can be sealed by many ways. Perhaps the most effectively method is to erect a fence either to cover some particular sections of the border or building a fence that could covers the entire border. Partial fence sometimes works quite effectively as it is usually erected in those areas that are being regularly used by the infiltrators. Besides, the cost of comprehensive fencing of the border is indeed enormous. India has built a fence on certain areas on the LOC. During the Sikh uprising, India also partially fenced the Punjab border.

Fence can also be further strengthened by mining the fenced areas. However the entire border can also be mined. Indeed this should be mined in such a way that it acts as a second line of defense. If the entire border is mined then it could act as a deterrent for all the potential illegal border crossings. To make it as an effective deterrent, it is imperative that it should be made public or conveyed in some ways to all potential infiltrators. Media could lend a helping hand in this regard.

The third method to check the illegal border crossings is to undertake regular joint patrolling. This would require efforts on the part of all the involved parties. If a joint patrolling is to become effective, the need to share intelligence information cannot be underrated. However it is not easy to patrol the entire border. The patrolling should be undertaken in those areas that are known to be regularly used by the infiltrators. As far as other areas are concerned both parties focus on their side of the border.

To further strengthen and facilitating the patrolling, it is imperative that both sides build number of hilltops and ground check points. This would imply that both sides not only station a large number of troops along the border and build many check-posts. Pakistan has already done so but Afghanistan has so far only built extremely limited number of posts. Since the Afghan army does not exceed the 50,000 mark, its government has to depend upon the outsiders. Many of the Afghan soldiers are still receiving training and their early induction for regular duties is not expected in near future.

Another method that could be especially be applied to Pak-Afghan border as it is inhabited by many tribes is to work out agreements with the local tribes with specific understanding that the tribes would ensure that the militants are effectively denied the use of their area for infiltrations. Again Pakistan has already signed one such agreement with the tribal elders in the North Waziristan. Similar agreements could be useful for Afghan government if they decide to negotiate with tribal elders on their side of the border.

In the ultimate analysis one has demonstrate political will to plug the routes of all illegal crossings. So far Pakistan has undertaken number of measures to check the infiltrations and these efforts have now been fully recognized by almost all the outsides that are involved in improving Afghanistan’s security situation except the incumbent Afghan regime in Kabul.The Kabul regime finds the diversionary tactics of putting the blame on Pakistan more appropriate in covering its own inabilities to effectively cope with border infiltrations and the internal law and order situation.

Not only the visiting Dutch Foreign Minister categorically expressed his deep appreciations for the Pakistani efforts in its fight against terrorism and Talibans but he also encouraged Pakistan and Afghanistan to further strengthen their neighborly relations and reiterated the importance of close military and civil cooperation to fight jointly against extremism. Whether or not Afghan government is going to pay heed to Dutch Minister’s advice and avoid the employment of blame game tactics and accelerate cooperation for developmental and security purposes remains to be seen in near future, one thing is certain that Pakistan will continue to extend cooperative hand to the Afghan regime.

Perhaps the most effective method of checking of alleged infiltrations is to employ all the above mentioned suggestions. While the most troublesome parts of the Pak-Afghan border could be fenced, some other parts could be just mined. This does not mean that joint or separate patrolling should not take place even if some areas are fenced and mined. In addition, the negotiations with the local tribes should also be undertaken. A combination of all these efforts is bound to have desired impact.

The Dutch Foreign Minister’s expressed interest in stepping up development efforts on Pakistan’s border regions with Afghanistan is indeed a welcome move. This would indeed facilitate already initiated Pakistani efforts to improve situation in those areas. Since 2001 the Dutch have actively contributed towards the stabilization of Afghanistan both through military means as well as humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. It is hoped that that the Afghan regime in Kabul would seriously consider Pakistani offer and constructively respond to Dutch Foreign Minister’s advice and enhance their cooperation with Pakistan.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.