Pakistan News and Discussion-8

[Naresh]

[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Pakistan ready to fence border with Afghanistan</span></b>[/center]

<b>ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Sunday expressed its readiness to seal the Pak-Afghan border, saying it could be fenced and jointly monitored.</b>

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, in his meeting here with the visiting Dutch Foreign Minister, Bernhard Bot, stressed the need to seal the Pak-Afghan border, according to officials.

Foreign Minister Bot welcomed Pakistan’s readiness to seal the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying that he would discuss this with other NATO partners, an official said.

The two foreign ministers reviewed all areas in bilateral relations with a perspective to enhance cooperation, especially in the area of trade and investment, according to officials here.

They also discussed international issues of mutual interest including Afghanistan, Indo-Pak relations and the composite dialogue as well as UN reforms, etc, the officials said. Foreign Minister Bot offered that his country would be interested in stepping into development efforts in Pak’s border region with Afghanistan, according to officials.

This is Dutch foreign minister’s second trip to Pakistan this year, following his three-day visit in May.

Kasuri reiterated the proposal for establishment of joint economic commission and conclusion of agreement on avoidance of double taxation as well as promotion of investment treaty.

He also raised the issue of delays in issuance of family reunion visas for Pakistan origin community in the Netherlands, which was causing great hardships to thousand of applicants, said an official.

He stressed the early implementation of Export of Social Security Benefits Agreement signed in 2004, which would help eligible Dutch citizens of Pakistan origin to receive their social security, the official added.

<b>Note :</b> If Pakistan can construct a Fence on its 2,430 KM Border with Afghanistan then it stands to reason that India should also construct a Fence on its 2,912 KM Border with Pakistan.

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