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Economic Development Crucial to Border Security

Economic Development Crucial to Border Security
Economic Development Crucial to Border Security

Lawmakers have called on the government to provide additional funds for development and security in the border regions, arguing that beefed-up troops and economic progress along frontiers is crucial to eradicating the scourge of terrorism from those areas.  

In a recent talk with ICANA, lawmaker Razi Nouri highlighted the need to improve the economic situation in border areas, saying that "sustainable security would largely materialize through economic growth and development."

"Lack of employment and insufficient income can push the youth in border towns to turn to illegal activities," he warned, stressing the need and importance of job creation and welfare as factors that would encourage the youth in these regions to stay away from crime.

Terrorists in the past have launched cross-border attacks against guards and civilians in the northwestern and southeastern provinces bordering the restive Iraqi Kurdistan and Pakistan respectively.

The plea for higher border resources comes against the backdrop of twin terrorist attacks in Tehran last week, which killed at least 17 people and injured over 50 others.

On June 7, gunmen mounted almost simultaneous assaults on parliament and the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini.

The self-styled Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The terrorists were all Iranian Kurds who had joined the ranks of IS in Syria and Iraq. They managed to slip into Iran via the Iraqi border, eventually making their way to the capital and carry out their vicious plan.

  Foreign Backers

Lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, called on the government to raise the budget allocation for promoting border security. "Security inside the country hinges on efforts made by border troops and guards."

In addition, the parliamentarian said the destabilizing activities of terrorist groups based near the borders are supported by some countries, urging the security forces to be more vigilant. He did not name any country.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Oslo on June 13, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran has "intelligence that Saudi Arabia is actively engaged in promoting terrorist groups" in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 "On the western side, the same type of activity is being undertaken," Zarif told a panel discussion in the Norwegian capital.

 

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