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Pakistan Steps Up al-Qaeda Hunt
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
(16:59 GMT) (17:59 UK)
The BBC

More troops have been sent to the area, reports say.
Image Credit: The Associated Press.

"Never before has the army penetrated these remote stretches ruled by tribal custom. Such cooperation from tribal areas... marks a historic first for Pakistan."

The Pakistani army says it is increasing its presence along the Afghan border to search for Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters still active in the area.

New checkpoints are being set up and troop patrols intensified in an operation senior officers are calling historic.

It will be the first time that government troops have gone into remote mountainous regions that have traditionally been left to tribal rule.

Two US Afghans, meanwhile, are being questioned in the area after their arrest last week on suspicion of entering Pakistan illegally.

Officials say it is not clear whether the two men, both carrying US passports but no Pakistani visas, have links with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

* 'Historic first'
* Reinforcements
(More: BBC Online News Source)
2002 © The British Broadcasting Corporation.

Dan