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Journalism of Courage
In a sign of growing concern over Islamic militants’ training camps in Pakistan, the Department of Homeland Security has ordered its inspectors at US’ largest airports to scrutinise all travellers of Pakistani descent — including US citizens — in an effort to catch terrorist trainees who might attempt to enter US, officials said Wednesday.
In its warning, which began circulating on June 17, the Customs and Border Protection Agency requested intensified searches at checkpoints at LA International Airport and at the main airports in New York, Washington, Chicago, Detroit and Newark. In particular, agents are being told to look for signs of physical injury that could have been received during paramilitary training — such as rope burns, unusual bruises and scars. A Pakistani diplomat decried the warning as unwarranted and said it could undermine relations between the US and Pakistan. A Homeland Security official confirmed the warning was issued, but said it was confidential and described it as one of many briefings given to agents.
He said it was the first to address training camps in Pakistan. ‘‘We don’t have specific intelligence that indicates there is a mass exodus from Pakistan training camps intent on coming here to do attacks,’’ he said.
He said agents have been instructed to take note of recent travellers to Pakistan and ‘‘to look for other clues’’. Mohammad Sadiq, deputy chief of mission at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, said the warning threatens to undermine the relationship between the two countries. ‘‘It is not only unfortunate, but based on ignorance,’’ said Sadiq. ‘‘Warnings like these harm us a lot and they harm Pakistani Americans and people from Pakistan who visit the US.’’ —(LAT-WP)
