US seeks to tie down Pakistan role in Afghanistan strikes
( 2001-09-25 10:48 ) (7 )

A team of US defence officials were holding talks with their Pakistan counterparts in Islamabad on Monday to firm up Islamabad's offer of cooperation with US military action against neighbouring Afghanistan.

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has promised "unstinted cooperation" with any US action aimed at hitting back at Osama bin Laden, the Afghanistan-based militant that the United States suspects of orchestrating the devastating September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

But exactly how far Islamabad will go in facilitating a US operation against bin Laden's bases or Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia remains an open and sensitive question.

In particular, the landing of US troops on Pakistani territory would be seen as a high-risk move with the potential to split the country, and its military elite.

US ambassador Wendy Chamberlin confirmed the military delegation's arrival after signing a deal to reschedule US$375 million of Pakistan's debt to Washington, the latest part of a package to reward Islamabad for its cooperative stance.

She said the small team was discussing "mutual cooperation and our efforts to combat terrorism," but added there was no question of the US side issuing any ultimatums.

"The US is making no demands on Pakistan. We do not make demands on our friends," she said.

Washington announced on Sunday that it was lifting sanctions imposed on Pakistan over its development of a nuclear weapons capacity.

Musharraf last week said Washington had requested the use of Pakistani airspace, logistical support and intelligence for any military action.

Logistical support could involve the use of Pakistan's ports to deliver fuel and other supplies in the event of US troops being deployed in land-locked Afghanistan.

Islamabad has also been asked to open its books to US investigators, exposing potentially embarrassing details of its alliance with the Taliban since the radical Islamic movement emerged in 1994.

Pakistani officials insist no specific request has been made for the use of bases in Pakistan or for US troops to be stationed in the country.

Radical Islamic groups have warned that the stationing of US troops in Pakistan would spark a civil war and have threatened to attack any airports used by American forces.

But the demonstrations against Musharraf's stance have so far been muted and all the signs are that most Pakistanis support the president's handling of the crisis.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell moved to address a key Pakistani concern by announcing that Washington would make public its evidence that bin Laden had been involved in the September 11 attacks, which killed some 6,800 people.

Musharraf has repeatedly reassured the public that any action will be aimed at bin Laden and his bases, not the Afghan people, many of whom share close ethnic as well as religious ties to Pakistanis.

The United States has however distanced itself from Pakistan's request that any military action should be authorised by the UN Security Council.

US national security adviser Condoleeza Rice said Sunday the United States did not need a specific UN green light for action it considered to be in self defence.

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said a delegation from China, Pakistan's closest ally, held meetings with officials in Islamabad in recent days.

"The Chinese government has lent full support to the strategy being formulated by Pakistan to deal with the current situation," he said.