Afghanistan's Taliban militia has deployed hundreds of its fighters equipped with stinger and other missiles along the Pakistan border to target US warplanes flying into Afghanistan, a media report said on Monday. The Taliban have also deployed thousands of Arab fighters in its spiritual city of Kandahar to defend it from any US attacks, 'The News' daily quoting Pakistani officials said.
It also quoted officials as saying that all Pakistan military aircraft have been removed from the Quetta airport and the army has taken over the security of the airport. Air Security Force (ASF) personnel vacated the airport. The report followed speculation that US would deploy some of its bombers at Quetta to launch attacks on the Taliban.
Pakistan has already agreed to provide logistical assistance to the US as well as permission to use its air space. Meanwhile, Iran's news agency IRNA quoted one of the country's senior navy officials as saying that the US and Britain have deployed more than 40 warships in the gulf region as they prepare for military retaliation to the September 11 terror strikes.
Forty-one American and British warships are present in the Persian Gulf and the sea of Oman, rear-admiral Hamid Valamanesh, navy commander in Iran's Southern Sistan Balochistan province, said.
Bureau Report