Pakistan denies it offered airports for US attacks

KARACHI Oct 10 (DPA) Pakistans government today denied media reports that it has put two airports at the disposal of the United States and allied forces for use in their war against terrorism.

Foreign ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan dismissed the reports as "Baseless", though one report quoted an unidentified official as saying that Jacobabad and Pasni airports would be used as recovery stations but not for launching attacks on Afghanistan.

According to the mass-circulation Urdu-language Daily Jang (War), F-16 fighters, C-130 transporters and helicopters have been landing at Jacobabad airport in Sindh province for past two days.

A similar presence was also reported at Pasni airport on the coastline of Balochistan province bordering Afghanistan.

Afghanistans ruling islamic Taliban and alleged terrorist Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda group are the targets of the U.S.

war on terrorism.

Jacobabad airport, built as an alternative to Karachi airport, was being guarded by the paramilitary rangers and no one is allowed to go near it, Jang said.

Pakistan military ruler general Pervez Musharraf confirmed on monday that pakistan airspace was being used in the attacks on "Terrorist camps" in Afghanistan.

British and U.S.

warships and submarines involved in the attacks are positioned off Pakistans coast, almost the same location from where the U.S.

Had launched attack on Osama Bin Ladens camps and positions in 1998 after the bombing of the U.S.

embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Washington says Osama Bin Laden is the prime suspect in September 11 attacks on New York and Washington that killed thousands.

Pakistani religious parties and groups are protesting violently against the attacks on Afghanistan and Pakistans decision to support the U.S.

In its military campaign against Afghanistan.

Pakistan religious scholars have issued an edict of Jihad (Holy war) against the U.S.

State-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has already suspended its flights to many domestic destinations for security concerns.

However one flight operated today to Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, where the anti-U.S.

Protests have been the most violent.

Reports of closure of airports in balochistan province coincided with intelligence leaks that U.S.

"special operations helicopters" were on their way to Pakistan.

American aircraft carrier kitty hawk present off the Balochistan coastline "Is likely to play a key role in the special forces raids into Afghanistan", according to Islamabads daily the news.

"Experts say the Americans are trying their best not to station their troops in Pakistan for prolonged period.

It may just be like a transit, where the troops will wait in their C-130 plane and switch to attack helicopters in case of action," the newspapers Washington correspondent reported.

Balochistan is the probable staging area for the U.S.

ground assaults on the Taliban and suspected terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan.

Its capital Quetta and has seen the most violent of the anti-U S demonstrations staged in Pakistan since the country joined the global coalitions war against terrorism in the already war-battered Afghanistan.

Press reports said the citys police chief has been removed for his alleged pro-taliban views.

Earlier president general Pervez Musharraf shifted lieutenant general Mushtaq Hussain as corps commander in Balochistan in a general shake-up in the armys hierarchy and commands to give a moderate look to the army, and to cover his flanks in the wake of Islamic parties rejection of his decision to side with the U.S.

A cartoon in the news shows the coalition cowboy drawing his gun at a Taliban scare-crow figure in desolate Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, authorities announced the suspension of the train service from Quetta to chaman on the Afghanistan border.

Pak wants moderates in Taliban in new govt DUBAI, Oct 10 (UNI) Pakistan foreign minister Abdul Sattar has said the moderates among the Taliban should be accommodated in any broad-based government that comes up in Kabul after the conclusion of the United States-led war against terrorism.

Speaking to the Dubai-based Khaleej Times last night, he said not all Taliban would oppose the installation of a new set-up as the saner elements within the militia are fed up with war and instability.

"When we talk about Taliban, we mean the militia which is ruling more than 95 per cent of Afghanistan.

But apart from the people who are actually running the militia, there are many Taliban who would like to join the mainstream of Afghans future politics,"said Sattar, who stopped over here on his way to Doha.