Afghans Want Pakistan Border Settled Before Fence

14 September 2005 -- The Afghan government welcomed today a Pakistani proposal to build a fence to stop Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters from coming into the country.

Interior Ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said Afghanistan welcomed cooperation over the border fencing. However, he said the border with Pakistan had to be settled first.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf offered yesterday to erect a fence between the two countries to prevent incursions from either side.

Musharraf made the offer during talks in New York with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The border between the countries is about 2,400 kilometers.

(Reuters)