Concerns in Pakistan at new US airbase on border

[Quetzal]

Concerns in Pakistan at new US airbase on border

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Islamist politicians said they were "concerned" about a new airbase built by US forces in Afghanistan (news - web sites) near the border with Pakistan, as one newspaper warned it could precipitate a spillover of US military action into Pakistan.

The United States-led military coalition has just completed building an airstrip in Afghanistan's southeast Paktika province, a US army spokesman said in Kabul, as the hunt for Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) steps up.

Paktika has borne the brunt of deadly hit-and-run ambushes and bomb attacks by fighters loyal to Al-Qaeda and the former Taliban rulers, who are often seen fleeing over the border into Pakistan's remote tribal areas where they have found sanctuary.

An extra 2,000 US Marines have also recently poured into southeast and southern Afghanistan to bolster the 13,500-strong coalition's invigorated Al-Qaeda hunt.

more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040428/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistan_afghanistan_040428135921