U.S. given access to third Pakistani base

Pakistan has given the U.S. military access to a third airbase located only 50 kilometres from the Afghan border, coinciding with the reported launching of ground operations by American special forces in Afghanistan, sources in the area said.

American aircraft were seen landing and taking off from the Dalbandin airfield in the Pakistani south-western province of Balochistan.

Last week, the government handed over the airports at Jacobabad in the southern Sindh province and Pasni in Balochistan to the U.S. forces as part of its logistical support for the military action against the Taliban regime and alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden.

At a press briefing here, foreign office spokesman, Riaz Mohammad Khan, did not confirm or deny the handing over of Dalbandin airstrip to the U.S., saying he would not go into the specifics of the logistical support being extended by Pakistan.

Khan, however, reiterated that no offensive operations would be launched into Afghanistan from Pakistani territory and that the use of the facilities made available to the Americans would be confined to dealing with contingencies such as emergency landing or rescue missions.

He said Pakistan was assisting the military operations against terrorism within the agreed parameters of intelligence sharing, logistical help and use of airspace.

Radical religious parties have vowed to stage protests against the use of Dalbandin airfield by the Americans.

Last week, their supporters tried to besiege the Jacobabad airport, but security forces thwarted the attempt.