Pak to seal parts of Afghan border during Muharram

Pakistani authorities will seal part of the country's border with Afghanistan during December 13-20 as part of special security measures for the Islamic holy month of Muharram, which has often been marred by sectarian and militant violence.

The administrator of Kurram tribal region, Syed Musaddiq Shah, announced the government's decision to seal the frontier during an interaction with journalists at Parachinar, the main town of the area.

"The border in Kurram Agency is being sealed from December 13 to December 20 due to security concerns and to prevent the influx of unwanted people from across the border," Shah said.

The Thall-Parachinar road, a vital highway in the region, too will be closed during the same period as a "lot of bloodshed between Shias and Sunnis has occurred on this road during the past few years", he said.

"The Pakistan army and gunship helicopters will be called in if there is any emergency," Shah said. Generators and additional ambulances have been arranged to cope with any contingency.

Medical teams will accompany mourning processions organised by the Shia community during Muharram, he said. Despite extensive security measures put in place across northwest Pakistan for Muharram, two suicide attacks targeting the minority Shia community have killed over 30 people this week.

Security forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas of Kurram Agency, where hundreds of people have lost their lives in sectarian clashes over the past three years.

Leaders from all sects, including the Ahl-e-Sunnat, have been taken on board with regard to the security measures, Shah said. He appealed to people not to allow militants "to enter their ranks" and urged clerics from all schools of Islamic thought to work to promote brotherhood, tolerance and religious harmony.