The Hindu : U.S. to give Pak. $ 10 m

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 30, 2002

International

International

U.S. to give Pak. $ 10 m

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JUNE 29. The United States will provide Pakistan with five latest helicopters, three reconnaissance aircraft with the latest spying system, and $10 million to help check infiltration of the Al-Qaeda activists fleeing from Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Interior Minister, Moinuddin Haider, has said that a special cell has been formed to coordinate better the operations against the terrorists and curb their infiltration from Afghanistan.

An Army brigadier of Civil Aviation would be in-charge of the cell, created in his Ministry. The cell would function round the clock.

Lt. Gen. (retd.) Haider said that the operations against the Al-Qaeda elements in Waziristan Agencies would continue.

The fugitives were suspected to be hiding in the houses of those Pakistanis who had joined the Taliban against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

``They are especially hiding in the houses of these Pakistanis who reside in the tribal areas; we are following them and would never spare any such activist,'' he said.

On the death of the 10 Pakistani troops in an operation against Chechen activists on Wednesday, the Minister said that "despite less modern facilities and techniques, the courage and dedication demonstrated by the Pakistani soldiers is a reflection of the Government's efforts to uproot terrorists from the country.'' Al-Qaeda seemed a highly organised network and latest technology was required to eliminate them.

Earlier, Rashid Quereshi, Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, expressed similar views and urged the international community to provide modern equipment and funds to Pakistan to fight the infiltrators.

The Interior Minister said that of the $10 million expected from the U.S., $1 million each would be provided to the Baluchistan and the NWFP Government to further equip paramilitary forces on the Pak.-Afghan border.

A major portion of the remaining amount would be used to modernise police and establish latest laboratories and finger print investigative units in the country.

``The substantial assistance of the U.S. in terms of latest equipment and otherwise would enable Pakistan to eliminate terrorists hiding in the Pakistani territory,'' he said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

'ISI interfering in selection of candidates'

Militants still active along LoC: report

Pak. negotiating surrender of Al-Qaeda activists

Live bombs litter streets after blast

Koreas trade charges over skirmish

U.S. to give Pak. $ 10 m

Hebron offices destroyed

China calls for Indo-Pak. talks

The mystery of Blair's `comeback'

Bush resumes duties after tests

Swamy's poser to Advani