TEHRAN – Iran’s border commander says a failure to properly monitor the country’s border with Pakistan will pose security problems in the long run.

Hossein Zolfaqari said, “If we had controlled Iran-Afghanistan border in the past, we would not have paid heavy price in handling the flow of Afghan nationals to the country.”
Iran shares its south-east border with Pakistan which extends for 909 kilometers (565 miles).
He said the length of Iran-Pakistan border, instability in the neighboring states, the presence of foreign forces in the region, and the mischievous acts by major powers have made it essential to guard borders closely.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Zolfaqari noted that illicit drug seizure across the borders has increased by 122 percent over the past five months, and accordingly drug seizure has decreased.
He went on to say that addicts and drug dealers make up 60 percent of the prison population in Iran, adding the number can be lowered through campaign against drug smuggling.
He said police have made great successes in monitoring borders over the past five months. For example, he said, alcoholic drink seizures have increased by 26%, smuggled fuel 2%, cigarettes 333%, and satellite receivers 825% over this period.