High alert along international border

By Sarabjit Pandher

CHANDIGARH, SEPT. 24. While Pakistan faces escalating tension over impending U.S. strikes against Afghanistan, India has put in place a contingency plan to facilitate speedy evacuation of foreign nationals fleeing that country, as well as maintaining a extremely high alert along the International Border.

According to sources in Amritsar and reports in the local media, at least 400 foreign nationals have crossed over into India using the land route at the Attari-Wagah joint border checkpost. Reports indicated that there has been a steady rise in the exodus of foreign nationals, who fear repercussions in Pakistan in view of the impending U.S. strikes following the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

While most fleeing Pakistan include tourists from western countries, about a dozen members of families diplomats of various missions based in Islamabad, including Indians, have also used the Attari-Wagah post to come to India.

Following instructions from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Immigration and Customs authorities have evolved a fast-track clearance plan for the Western nationals and diplomatic staff at the entry point. Since last night, the immigration authorities have begun running their Attari office round the clock, issuing diplomatic, official and tourist visas. The authorities expect a higher rush of foreign nationals, particularly the staff of Islamabad-based foreign missions over the next few days. The authorities have instructions to accept any foreign national allowed crossing over by Pakistan.

To accommodate the increased inflow of foreign nationals, the hotels have made special arrangements, while the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has thrown open its rest houses in the Golden Temple complex. The task force volunteers of the SGPC have been assisting the foreigners.

While no official version was made available till this report was being filed, the issue of foreign nationals was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Battalion Commandants of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers today. The BSF sources said that it had noticed the thinning out of the Rangers along the border, who might have been deployed for internal security duties. Heightened movement of the regular Pakistan army columns was also noticed, but could not be officially confirmed.

To deal with the exigency of some ``mischief'' to deflect public attention in Pakistan, the BSF has been placed on extra high alert. While the patrolling has been intensified, night nakas and traps have been increased. The various riverine stretches have been brought under more surveillance through an augmented flood lighting, deploying more motor boats and laying more boat nakas.

The prevailing tension has been reflected in the sharp drop in passenger traffic to and from Pakistan via the rail and road routes over the past one week. For the first time after the Kargil conflict, the number of Pakistan-bound Indian nationals by Samjhauta Express, a bi-weekly train that runs between Attari and Lahore, has dwindled by as much as 80 per cent. Similarly, there has been a fall of 40 per cent in India-bound passenger traffic from Pakistan. Seats have been going abegging even in the Delhi- Lahore bus.

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