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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Afghans tighten border security |
| 2004-09-22 |
| Pakistan has deployed more troops to beef up security in border areas of Chaman and Zhob ahead of the forthcoming presidential election in Afghanistan. "Deployment of more troops along the Afghan border is part of precautionary measures," officials told this correspondent on Tuesday, adding that unnecessary movement of people had been restricted in border areas. Sources said that the army personnel have taken over security at the Chaman border. Normally, the Frontier Corps is responsible for protecting borders areas. New trenches, the sources said, were being dug up along a 40-kilometre stretch on the Chaman border to keep an eye on the activities of suspected members of Taliban and Al Qaeda network. Taliban leaders, through various pamphlets, have also advised people to keep away from the Oct 9 presidential elections. The sources said that security officials had intensified scrutiny on the border to stop illegal crossings. Reports from Zhob suggested that security had been tightened in border areas of the district to check the influx of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda members from the Waziristan tribal area and Afghanistan. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |