Thaindian News

Islamabad, Nov 25 (ANI): The explosives used in bomb attacks on Pakistani territory are being smuggled from Afghanistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

“All these IEDs (improvised-explosive devices) are actually being transported from Afghanistan to Pakistan,” the Dawn quoted Malik, as saying in a national conference on countering the threat from roadside bombs.

“With naked eyes, you can see on the border… that the terrorists are coming towards Pakistan, along with arms and ammunition,” he added.

Washington considers Pakistan’s tribal belt an al Qaeda headquarters, the paper said, adding that the country has carried out offensives in the area, but so far resisted the US’ demands for a ground operation in North Waziristan, considered a premier militant fortress.

“When we were asked to do more, we have done much, much more. And today you have seen, the crossing from our side is nominal,” said Malik.

The Interior Minister blamed Afghan militiamen for destroying biometric systems, making it impossible to identify the tens of thousands of people who cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan on a daily basis.

“We really do not know how many terrorists, how many drug barons, how many criminals are crossing every day,” Malik rued.

The minister also requested greater assistance from the international community in boosting Pakistan’s police training and forensic capabilities.

“We need your moral support. We need your practical support in building the capacity, both for the police and of course our armed forces,” said Malik. (ANI)