Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Mohamed Asif on Monday said presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan was a security risk.

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Mohamed Asif on Monday said presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan was a security risk.

He underlined the need for a national narrative which linked the continued presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan — numbering almost 3 million — with the security situation.

Mr Asif said it was difficult for Pakistan to monitor and regulate the presence of so many Afghan nationals in Pakistan, some of whom may be involved in activities prejudicial to security and law and order. Briefing the senate’s defence committee here, he said Pakistan was in contact with Afghanistan to settle the issue.

The ministry of defence provided a detailed briefing in chronological order regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan border management issues and reaffirmed that Pakistan was committed to good, cooperative relations with Afghanistan based on a strategic approach and mutual consent and consultation. The ministry informed the committee that the border posts at Torkham which had now been rebuilt, is an official border and legal crossing where about 20,000 people cross every day from both sides and it will be formally inaugurated on August 1, 2016 with consultation of both neighbours. Senate defence committee chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed highlighted the importance of good relations with neighbours like Afghanistan and Iran in the context of regional stabilit.

Pakistan’s national security interests and the deterioration of ties with India in the context of popular, spontaneous and widespread of the Kashmir issue in which the Senate Defence Committee expressed its solidarity.

He expressed the hope that all these issues will be resolved through mutual consultation and mutual consent and there is no need for any over-reaction on account of stray incidents on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.