Islamabad, June 21 (IANS): Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday ordered blocking of roaming facility of Afghan subscriber identity modules (SIMs) of cellphones to curb anti-state and criminal activities of terrorists in the country, officials said.
Security officials said militants frequently use mobile phones to carry out terrorist attacks and that Afghan mobile phones are also used for terrorist activities, Xinhua reported.
The government has taken the decision to disconnect roaming facility of Afghan SIMs following the major military offensive in North Waziristan tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.
"On the request of law enforcement agencies, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has directed Pakistan Telecom Authority to discontinue roaming facilities on Afghanistan SIMs to block anti-state and criminal activities of terrorists in Pakistan," the prime minister's office said in a statement.
The prime minister wanted this task to be completed in the next couple of days, said the statement.
It said the measure would be helpful in impeding communications between the terrorists and would also help in reducing crimes related to kidnapping for ransom.
The Afghan government has not yet commented on the Pakistani decision.
Security officials said Afghan SIMs are also used for extortion from businesses and wealthy people in Pakistan.