Pak-Afghan border strictly monitored: Senate body

ISLAMABAD: In a joint report of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs it was said that strict monitoring should be carried out on the Pak-Afghan border while the army was on alert on the Line of Control (LoC).

On the situation along the Pak-Afghan border, the report reveals that after the Operation Khyber-III launched in mid-August, 86 cross-border violations from the Afghan territory had taken place. Two serious incidents of cross-border firing over the past week were reported. “As a result of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, terrorists and miscreants have either been obliterated or have left the area. Effective border management measures were instituted at the Torkham borderintroducing travel documentation regime.”

On the other hand India had violated the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) 103 times during the past one year and 58 times after the Uri incident on September 18, reads a key Senate document.

It says against the backdrop of the existing situation, the armed forces have ensured their operational preparedness. “Apart from the army, Pakistan Air Force is also very active and is conducting exercises Hallmark. Our airbases are alert. Pakistan Navy is also active and alert at the sea. Pakistan does not initiate any border violations, but all border violations are responded to adequately. So far, the activity from India is confined to ceasefire violations only, of which a befitting response is given by the Pakistani side.”

--Originally published in The News