Author: Chidanand Rajghatta
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 30, 2004
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/759972.cms
In an extraordinarily country-specific
scrutiny, Pakistani nationals, immigrants and even Pakistan-born US citizens
arriving at key US airports are being checked for injuries that might suggest
they have been training at terrorist camps in Pakistan.
A two-page "action bulletin" issued
by the US Customs and Border Protection calls for a close examination of
all travellers of Pakistani descent for minor injuries such as "rope burns,"
"unusual bruises" and "scars" possibly suffered while training in terrorist
camps.
The "For Official Use Only" bulletin,
reported first in the website WorldNetDaily, says recent intelligence gathered
in Pakistan and elsewhere indicates that individuals travelling to train
at terrorist camps in Pakistan may be planning to carry out attacks within
the United States between now and the presidential election in November.
The bulletin directs agents at major
international airports in New York, New Jersey, Washington, Detroit, Chicago
and Los Angeles to "increase scrutiny" of passengers who are naturalized
US citizens or legal permanent residents of Pakistani descent, and "who
exhibit evidence of suspicious travel, including short trips to Pakistan
not related to family or business."
The bulletin indicates that despite
the period certification of Islamabad as an ally in the war on terrorism
by state department mandarins, US law enforcement and counter-terrorism
officials believe Pakistan is still a hotbed of terrorist activity. The
bulletin asks inspectors examine travellers of Pakistani descent for physical
signs that they've engaged in paramilitary training in Pakistan. For example,
"officers should look for indications the individual engaged in rappelling
activities (rope burns on arms/legs)." In addition, it says they should
look for "unusual bruises resulting from obstacle course activities," and
"wounds" or "scars" suffered from the discharge of firearms.
