India orders demolition drive along Pakistan border

India’s interior minister has ordered the demolition of illegal buildings within 15 kilometres of the border with Pakistan, his office said Wednesday.

Home Minister Amit Shah is known for his hardline stance on national security, illegal migration and transnational crimes.

“Amit Shah stressed the need for strict enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against illegal constructions, particularly within 0-15 kilometres of the international border,” the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

“He directed the concerned authorities to demolish all such unauthorised constructions.”

Shah urged officials to boost efforts “to effectively address infiltration, narcotics smuggling, encroachment, terror financing, and other trans-border crimes”, according to the statement.

Shah issued the order while in the western state of Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan.

New Delhi has accused Islamabad of aiding militants and proxy forces, as well as narcotics and weapons smuggling into India, and has spent heavily on reinforcing its highly-patrolled borders. Pakistan has consistently denied India’s allegations.