Iran to Implement Comprehensive Security Plan along Borders

TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- The Islamic Republic of Iran has drawn a comprehensive plan to establish sustainable security along the country's borders, a senior Iranian Interior Ministry official announced on Saturday.
Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs Ali Abdollahi said that the initial phases of the plan have already started, adding that the plan will greatly affect those residing at the borders politically, socially, economically and culturally.

Abdollahi underlined that implementation of the plan in Iran's Southeastern, Northwestern and Western border regions sets a priority for the ministry, and noted, "The plan will be implemented in all the border regions in a bid to prevent illegal border crossings, specially by terrorist groups and outlaws."

The official added that implementation of the plan would take five years.

Earlier this month Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that Iran is building a long fence along its border with Pakistan as part of its measures to block the entry of drug-traffickers and terrorists into the country.

Iran is on a crossroad of international drug transit route linking the world drug hub, Afghanistan, to the Persian Gulf and European countries.

Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers and terrorists. The crackdown has cost Iran more than 700 million dollars over the past two years. Last year, Iran allocated millions to strengthen border security and block the entry of terrorists and drug traffickers into the country.

Strategies pursued by Tehran include digging canals, building barriers and installing barbed wire to seal its borders.