M A I N   N E W S

Pak shuts border with Afghanistan

Peshawar, September 17
Pakistan stopped all trade, except for food, to Afghanistan today and began sending more police to its North-West Frontier Province to implement a new order confining 1.2 million Afghan refugees to the dozens of camps that are scattered throughout the province.

With the exception of food, nothing else is getting through the border, including hundreds of Afghans trying to cross into Pakistan, said Mr Farooq Shah, border official at Torkham, the Pakistani border town.

The closure of the border was one of several requests made of Pakistan by the USA. Other requests, including use of Pakistan’s airspace, soil as well as an exchange of intelligence material — all in preparation of a possible retaliatory strike against Afghanistan for the deadly terrorist attacks on US soil.

Refugees, who usually move freely, yesterday were ordered to stay within the camp limits by the provincial government, which called it a precautionary measure in the event of a US strike on the neighbouring Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have left several major cities in their landlocked homeland and were heading toward the borders with Pakistan and Iran, a spokesman for the UNHCR said today.

Pakistani Muslim protesters chant anti-American slogans during a protest in Islamabad on Monday. Sporadic protests have begun to appear in the capital and other cities in Pakistan as more Islamic groups voice their displeasure at Pakistan’s decision to help the USA against the Taliban. — Reuters photo

50 US security agents in Pak

Islamabad, September 17
The USA has already deployed up to 50 agents, including some from the special forces, in Pakistan, western and Pakistani sources said today.

A majority of the agents arrived overnight on Thursday and early Friday when Islamabad airport was closed mysteriously for five hours, the sources said.

The Americans are involved in advance liaison work and the selection of Pakistani officers to work with them in preparation for possible military operations in or against neighbouring Afghanistan.

They are also carrying out research, notably on the feasibility of getting troops into Afghanistan.

Some of the Americans have gone to Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan, and Peshawar in the north west. Both cities are close to the border with Afghanistan.

Us Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday a team of officials would be arriving in Pakistan this week to follow up on Islamabad’s offer to help with anti-terrorism measures.

Meanwhile, a special UN aircraft carrying five US diplomats has landed at Quetta Airport on an unknown mission.

The airport authorities confirmed the landing of the UN plane late on Saturday and said they do not know the nationalities of the people on board the aircraft. AFP

Musharraf cancels China visit

Islamabad, September 17
President Pervez Musharraf has cancelled his one-day visit to China following an assurance of unflinching support from the Chinese Government in the fight against terrorism.

The President was expected to leave for China on Sunday and return today but the visit was cancelled following the receipt of a message from the Chinese authorities, source said.

The Chinese Government in its message fully supported Pakistan’s decision to extend full cooperation to international efforts for combating terrorism, the source added.

The Chinese Government also expressed concern over the growing incidence of international terrorism and noted that it should be checked. ANI