Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, once again defended the ban on visa-free and passport-free travel across his country’s border with Afghanistan.
Mr. Asif emphasized the need for strict adherence to international laws at Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan.
In an interview with Pakistani media “Geo News,” the Defense Minister stated, “All travel across Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan will only be permitted with a valid passport and visa.”
He stated the decision aims to prevent terrorism and smuggling activities originating from Afghanistan.
He further added, “We must ensure our country’s security, and these crossings have jeopardized our safety.”
These statements come amid heightened tensions at the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. Border skirmishes between Pakistani forces and the Taliban have occurred multiple times in recent months.
Khawaja Asif acknowledged that terrorist attacks in Pakistan have increased significantly since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. He pointed out that Pakistan attributes the source of terrorism to Afghan soil.
Meanwhile, the Taliban deny these accusations and assert that the Pakistani government supports ISIS in Afghanistan and the region.
In addition, Pakistani authorities, responding to increased terrorist attacks in the country, have repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring Pakistani Taliban insurgents (TTP) in Afghanistan.
Last year, Pakistan’s Supreme Government Committee announced plans to synchronize entry regulations for Afghans with those of other bordering nations, abolishing the practice of passport-less and visa-less entry into Pakistan.
The Pakistani government implemented this policy shift starting on November 1st, triggering extensive protests in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Protesters expressed discontent over the end of the previous allowances for crossing borders with outdated documents like Indo-British era agreements, national identity cards, and travel permits.
