Fleeing Afghans stranded at border

Up to 20,000 Afghan refugees desperately trying to flee their country amid the threat of an attack by America are stranded without…

Up to 20,000 Afghan refugees desperately trying to flee their country amid the threat of an attack by America are stranded without food and water at the main border into Pakistan.

The crossing at the small town of Torkham on the Khyber pass in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has been closed to incoming refugees for the last five days, local people said yesterday.

Tension is mounting at the border as the number gathering grows each day. The refugees, battered by 23 years of war in their country, are fleeing before any strike by the US in retaliation for the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Taliban border forces have taken up positions at the Torkham border, as the likelihood of conflict draws near. This is the first time Pakistanis and Taliban have faced each other on the border.

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There are also fears that the ruling Taliban will declare war on Pakistan if it co-operates with an American assault on Afghanistan.

Pakistan is only one of three countries that officially recognises the Taliban leadership. But it is coming under increasing pressure from the US to assist in an offensive against Afghanistan, whether it be an air or ground assault.

Taliban border-guards are said to have installed 12.7mm anti-aircraft guns close to the border.

The guns, which have a straight shooting range of two kilometres and four kilometres in the air, have been installed near the Taliban's intelligence offices close to the main gates of the check-post and the customs offices.

Yesterday, the Pakistan authorities in nearby Peshawar gave permits to approximately 10 news organisations, including The Irish Times and RT╔, to visit the border crossing.

Journalists had to get permission from the Ministry of Information and Media Development and the Home and Tribal Affairs Development Department, a process that took two hours. Each car containing journalists was assigned a solider from the Pakastini paramilitary force, the Khyber Rifles. This was necessary for our own safety, we were told. Our solider was armed with a Kalashnikov rifle.

It was clear from the 40-kilometre drive from Peshawar to Torkham that if the US was to consider a ground assault in Pakistan, road access would be difficult. The roads on the mountainous route were narrow and in poor condition.

As we drove in convoy over the Khyber pass, 42 kilometres long, various armed soldiers were in evidence.

Our car was the first to reach Torkham. We drove into the town and stopped about 100 yards from the huge red brick gates and control point that divides Pakistan and its neighbour. Behind the gates thousands waited in hope of being let through.

The streets were densely packed with people of all ages. Dozens of people surrounded us as we got out of the car. An armed Taliban soldier shouted at the soldier accompanying us and pointed angrily at us.

We were told the Taliban did not want American journalists in the town, and did not want to be interviewed or pictured. Trying to explain we were not American was useless.

Our assigned soldier shouted at us to get into our car immediately as the angry crowd grew bigger. He threw stones at a group of jeering Taliban children, telling them to go away.

Driving away, the crowd pushed and jostled our Honda car.

Our solider told us it was a "dangerous area" for us and advised that we drive back to Peshawar. However, at the edge of Torkham, where other news journalists had gathered, we began to interview people.

One Afghanistan man who has lived in Torkham for 20 years and who smuggles food and small parts for a living said there were between 15,000 and 20,000 refugees gathered at the gates waiting for permission to enter.

"They have let no one in for five days and have stopped processing applications to enter," he said. Previously, people were able to get a crossing permit.

He said they had no food and water and the situation was deteriorating each day.

The smuggler said the Taliban were ready for the Americans. "Let them attack but they will fight," he said.

A Taliban supporter in the crowd shouted: "America has attacked other countries in the past. Let them attack us. We will be ready."

A man living on the Pakistan side said American troops would not be accepted. "They will not be welcome here."

There was no possibility, he said, that American tanks could pass through Torkham en route to Afghanistan.

After 20 minutes, the Pakistani police commander for the area, Mr Arshid Majid, approached and advised the media to leave. He said the Taliban mood was so angry, they might shoot at our group.

"If something happens to you, I do not want to be responsible. We want to protect foreigners. The situation is very tense and the Taliban are very angry.

"I think it is very risky for you to be here."

Many locals had gathered and it was made clear they would be happier if the media left.

Meanwhile, the North Western Frontier Provincial Government in Peshawar said it will restrict the movements of Afghan refugees at various camps in the area.

Yesterday, The Irish Times reported on the appalling conditions at one of the camps at Jalozai near the city.

Senior police superintendent in Peshawar, Dr Salman, said the order to seal the camps was intended to "ensure that the terrorist and subversive elements are strictly checked".

Pakistan is worried that those refugees loyal to the Taliban would turn violent if the US uses either Pakistani airspace or soil to attack Afghanistan.

Security has been noticeably increased around the refugee camps. There is dismay and anger at the new orders.

"If we don't go outside the camps how will we feed our children?" one woman in Jozalai camp asked. "We are people and we are not creating any problems for the Pakistanis."

An estimated two million Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan, with another 1.4 million living in other countries around the world.