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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Pakistan joins naval bid against al-Qaeda |
| 2004-03-21 |
| Pakistan has agreed to allow coalition ships to hunt Al-Qaeda fighters deep inside its territorial waters, in an unprecedented move that will let British and American ships sail close to the country's coast. President Pervez Musharraf's decision to let the British-led naval task force patrol in Pakistani waters, within the official 19.2km limit, reflects fears that terrorists will try to escape by sea from the latest military offensive being waged against them, the London Telegraph reported. General Musharraf has committed Pakistan's navy to join ships from seven nations in a coalition task force that is guarding the Arabian Sea against the illicit movement of people, weapons and drugs - all vital elements of terrorist networks, the report said. When the Taleban regime was toppled in Afghanistan in 2001, hundreds of Al-Qaeda militants fled south from the mountains to the unguarded coastlines of Pakistan and Iran, escaping by boat to the Gulf, Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Washington and London are determined to ensure that it does not happen again as United States forces launch Operation Mountain Storm in Afghanistan's mountainous frontier belt, and Pakistani troops pursue their fresh offensive against Osama bin Laden and senior Al-Qaeda lieutenants. Diplomats in both capitals regard Gen Musharraf's decision as a significant breakthrough. It came after talks in Islamabad last week between Gen Musharraf and Admiral Sir Alan West, Britain's Chief of Naval Staff. The maritime campaign to deny terrorists a free run of the oceans had been made a top priority in recent weeks, said Sir Alan. 'The whole point of coming somewhere like this is to show that terrorists cannot dictate what we do or where we go,' he told the Telegraph, speaking aboard the frigate Grafton in Karachi. The Pakistani port city, a known hub for Al-Qaeda terrorists and homegrown militants, has been plagued by violence and bomb attacks against Western targets. At the heart of Operation Enduring Freedom, which was launched after the Sept 11 attacks, is the so-called HIV (high interest vessels) database. Among other suspicious ships, the database holds details of about a dozen freighters - some up to 91.2m in length - that are believed to be under the control of Al-Qaeda or its supporters. One dhow, which is at present thought to be moving along the East African coast, has 'Al-Qaeda links', according to naval officials, and is believed to be carrying explosives for a terrorist attack. 'We are still getting to grips with the scale of the problem,' Sir Alan said. 'The smuggling of drugs, terrorists and arms are inter-related.' |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 One dhow, which is at present thought to be moving along the East African coast, has 'Al-Qaeda links', according to naval officials, and is believed to be carrying explosives for a terrorist attack. Sounds like a job for the Sand Piper. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-3-21 8:11:00 PM |