Iran-Pakistan barrier

The Iran-Pakistan barrier is a separation barrier which Iran has started building along its border with Pakistan replacing an intermittent tattered border fence. [cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/755532.stm
title = Border patrol with Iran's drugbusters
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last = Fiske
first = Philip
date = May 19, 2000
publisher = BBC] The 3 ft (91,4 cm) thick and 10 ft (3,048 m) high concrete wall, fortified with steel rods, will span the 700 km frontier stretching from Taftan to Mand. The project will include large earth and stone embankments and deep ditches. The border region is already dotted with police observation towers and fortress-style garrisons for troops.

History and stated purpose

The controversial wall is being constructed to stop illegal border crossings, [cite web
url = http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=357668&sid=SAS&ssid=
title = Iran erecting wall along the border with Pakistan
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = March, 2007
publisher = The Hindu] stem the flow of drugs, [cite web
url = http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DAH337249.htm
title = INTERVIEW-"Iranian wall" seen hindering drug smugglers-UN
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last = Dahl
first = Fredrik
date = May 13, 2007
publisher = Reuters] and in response to recent terror attacks, notably the one in Iranian border town of Zahedan on February 17, 2007, which killed thirteen people, including nine Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials. [cite web
url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C19%5Cstory_19-5-2007_pg7_15
title = Pakistan and Iran blame Afghanistan for unrest
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = May 19, 2007
publisher = Daily Times] However Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam denied any link between the fence and the bomb blast, saying that Iran was not blaming these incidents on Pakistan. [cite web
url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/03/stories/2007030305171400.htm
title = Iran fences border with Pakistan
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last = Subramanian
first = Nirupama
date = March 03, 2007
publisher = Zee News]

Reactions to the wall

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has said that Iran has the right to erect border fencing in its territory. [cite web
url = http://www.mofa.gov.pk/Spokesperson/2007/May/Spokes_28_05_07.htm
title = Transcript of Press briefing of Foreign Spokesperson on 28 May 2007
accessdate = 2007-10-08
last =
first =
date = May 28, 2007
publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs
quote=If Iran is building a fence on its side of the border, I do not have any comments on that. Pakistan has no reservation because Iran is constructing the fence on its territory. The designated entry points would be available for entry of goods and people. The Iranians convey to us that they are equally keen to promote trade and facilitate legitimate movement of people.] [cite web
url = http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0705293105005709.htm
title = Pakistan defends Iran right to erect border fencing
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = May 28, 2007
publisher = Islamic Republic News Agency] However, opposition to the construction of the wall was raised in the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. It maintained that the wall would create problems for the Baloch people whose lands straddle the border region. The community would become divided politically and socially, with their trade and social activities being seriously impeded. [cite web
url = http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?179432
title = Governor Balochistan should be replaced by local Baloch: Gatchkol Ali
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = May 28, 2007
publisher = Pakistan News Service] Leader of the Opposition Kachkol Ali said the governments of the two countries had not taken the Baloch into their confidence on this matter, [cite web
url = http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/27/top8.htm
title = Debate on Iran border wall disallowed
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last = Kasi
first = Amanullah
date = May 7, 2007
publisher = Dawn] demanded that the construction of the wall be stopped immediately, and appealed to the international community to help the Baloch people. [cite web
url = http://www.myantiwar.org/view/119250.html
title = ‘Anti-Baloch’ wall on Pak-Iran border opposed
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = 2007
publisher = The News International]

Iranian border security forces gave an ultimatum to the residents of a Pakistani border town to vacate the town within 10 days. Residents of the Sorap locality in the Mand area of western Mekran region in Balochistan province rely on edible goods illegally coming from Iran for their livelihood. [cite web
url = http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2911
title = Iran to Build Fence Along Pakistan Border: Iran-Pakistan Border Dispute
accessdate = 2007-06-11
last =
first =
date = March 01, 2007
publisher = India Defence]

References

ee also

*2007 Zahedan bombings

External links

* [http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=11350&sectionid=351020101 Pakistan backs Iran's border fencing, (29 May, 2007)]
* [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C44C9A32-2BBF-45B8-9401-DE8B3406D194.htm Iran to wall off Baluchistan border] , Al Jazeera
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2007/05/070527_pak_iran_sen.shtml ’بلوچوں کوتقسیم کیاجا رہا ہے‘] , BBC ur icon

Photographs

* [http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/02/top8.htm Iran raising wall along border with Pakistan]