LANDI KOTAL: Commandant Khyber Rifles Col Umar Farooq has said that fake Pakistani identity cards prepared in Afghanistan are a constant source of trouble for successful implementation of the newly devised Border Management Policy at Torkham.

Talking to a delegation of Tribal Union of Journalists at his office here on Wednesday, he said that some Afghan nationals living across the border were involved in illegal practice of replacing the original photos of legitimate Pakistani nationals with that of an Afghan national while tactfully retaining the remaining contents of the Computerised National Identity Cards.

`We have information about installation of fake cards making machines across the border where these cards are issued to aspiring Afghansfor payment of Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 per card, he said.

Col Umar said that Pakistani border guards posted at Torkham were unable to detect such technical anomalies in the CNICs unlawfully possessed by Afghan nationals.

`We have not yet installed the necessary fake CNIC cards detection machine at the Torkham border. We have requested federal government for provision of such machines to detect and prevent misuse of such fabricated identity cards at the border,` he said.

The official said that some staffers of local National Database and Registration Authority office were also involved in issuance of fake CNICs to Afghan nationals. About the condition of passport for Pakistani nationals for their cross-border travelling via Torkham, Col Umar said that the new policy would be implemented from February 1 next year.A Pakistani passport could not be duplicated and the new policy would help in discouraging misuse of Pakistani CNICs, he added.

However, he said that local residents, particularly Shinwari tribesmen, would be exempted from possessing Pakistani passport for their frequent travelling to Afghanistan as they were already issued `Rahdari permits` by the local political administration.

Col Farooq expressed satisfaction over improvement in security situation in Khyber Agency with the effective implementation of Border Management Policy.

`The new policy is playing a major role in preventing of acts of terrorism and keeping an eye on the movement of suspected militants,` said the of ficial.

He added that improvement in security situation would encourage tourists to visit Khyber Agency without any fear or threat.