November 17, 2001	Saturday	Ramazan 1, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday held a meeting with the governors of NWFP and Balochistan, and reviewed measures taken to ensure sealing of over 1,500km Durand Line.

“Some troops have been moved to supplement the scouts and the Frontier Constabulary at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The aim is to make sure that the border is sealed,” President’s spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said at the daily foreign office briefing.

The meeting, also attended by Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Muhammad Yusaf Khan, Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider, corps commanders of Peshawar and Quetta, reviewed the internal security and the Afghan situation, he said.

“Except for the extreme humanitarian cases nobody without valid travel documents would be allowed to enter Pakistan,” said Maj-Gen Qureshi.

The meeting was briefed about the impact of recent developments in Afghanistan on the western borders and influx of refugees.

The meeting was informed about the coordinated steps, including the deployment of troops, civil armed forces, scouts and other assets, being taken for ensuring security on the western borders. Maj-Gen Qureshi refuted reports that tanks had also been moved to the areas bordering Afghanistan.

The meeting, he said, reiterated the resolve that nobody would be allowed to break the law of the land and all violators of law would be dealt firmly.

He said the number of troops deployed on the borders was not very large. However, he added, they were enough to ensure sealing of the borders.

The spokesman refuted reports that some bombs had been dropped inside the Pakistani territory. He said the authorities had verified and the bombs had been dropped close to Pakistani territory but not inside.

FO SPOKESMAN: FO Spokesman Aziz Khan refuted suggestion as hypothetical that the military operation could be extended to tribal areas of Pakistan in case some members of Al Qaeda would infiltrate.

Asked to comment on a statement by UN deputy special representative Francesc Vendrell that Pakistan and Iran would not be included in the peacekeeping forces, the spokesman said the subject had not been discussed yet.

Referring to a statement by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the spokesman said that Pakistan had decided to support international coalition on the basis of a principled decision. Pakistan, he said, had always been against terrorism and it had supported the international coalition on the basis of the same principle.

About diplomatic relations with the Taliban, Mr Khan said the situation was under constant review and a decision about diplomatic relations with the Taliban would be taken as and when needed.

In reply to a question whether the bombing would be stopped in Ramazan, he said all the military objectives had not been achieved and the question pertains to achievement of those objectives. He said a tremendous change had occurred in Afghanistan and bombing had been reduced but one cannot predict when the other objectives would be achieved and how the military situation would develop.

About the revival of Group of 21, the spokesman said it was a separate group which had been lying dormant for the past many years. Now it has been decided to hold a meeting of the group and Pakistan would participate in it, he added.

He said the Six-plus-Two group had held a meeting at the ministerial level, which was also attended by the UN secretary-general.

The meeting of group of 21, he said, was being held at lower level. Whereas the Six-plus-Two group was playing a key role.