The anti-terrorism war against Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan have begun, officials here said. Thousands of Afghan refugees were today forcibly removed from settlements around Quetta airport in southwest Pakistan amid speculation the United States is about to launch a strike against Afghanistan.
Refugees said that they had been given until 6:00 pm (1830 IST) today to find alternative accommodation. Between 20,000 and 30,000 long term Afghan refugees and Kuchis - Afghan nomads - had set up camp near the airport about five years ago. The airport also houses Pakistani military aircraft.
"This is not fair. Where are we going to go, how will we work? We have nowhere to go," one refugee said.
Hundreds of Pakistani police were seen scattered around the camp today amid heightened speculation that Washington is about to launch an attack on Afghanistan's Taliban regime and Osama bin Laden, the man blamed for the September 11 destruction in New York and Washington.
The airport in this city has been touted as a possible refuelling and logistics stop for US warplanes. Pakistan has offered its airspace, intelligence and "logistical support" to Washington.
Analysts say a second airstrip near Kharan, about 180 km southwest of here, could also be used.
The Shamsi airstrip near Kharan was originally built by the United Arab Emirates to provide access for hunting expeditions in remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The first batch of 1,000 US troops are already reported to be in Uzbekistan. "A few dozen" members of the military Special Operations forces have already been deployed within the striking distance of Afghanistan, a Defence Department official was quoted as saying in the New York Times.
But around 500 additional members of Special Operations units will be laced among the 23,000 US troops now landing in Egypt for a month-long military exercise, 'Bright Star', which begins next week, a Pentagon official told the paper, adding "They could easily swing over toward Afghanistan."
The US is also arming the soldiers of the Northern Alliance while efforts are being made to cause defections in the Taliban ranks, which is providing shelter to prime suspect in Sep 11 attacks on the US, officials said.
"Assisting forces that are in opposition to the government of a hostile country - now, that is a classic special forces mission," said one veteran of the Army Special Forces, the Green Berets.
British troops already in Oman for joint exercises will join the Americans from day one of the war. The British troops are expected to include the famed Gurkhas.
The way might be novel as the terrain could not be more inhospitable and the Taliban soldiers are
well-armed though with equipment much of which is now obsolete or obsolescent |
