Concentration of US Forces at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border - 2002-05-01

US forces are concentrating along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to support British troops searching for Osama bin Laden's supporters. Senior Pentagon officials have confirmed this troop concentration, stating that hundreds of US soldiers and combat helicopters have been deployed near the city of Khost. However, a Pentagon military spokesperson denies any connection between this troop movement and the clashes at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Today, the Afghan Islamic Press, based in Pakistan, reported that hundreds of coalition soldiers launched operations against loyalists of Osama bin Laden late Tuesday. According to the Afghan Islamic Press, this operation is taking place in an area 30 kilometers from the Pakistan border, which witnessed heavy fighting earlier this year. Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, clashes have occurred between supporters of rival leaders, both of whom are officials in the interim government. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense in Kabul stated that the clash late Tuesday involved loyalists of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, an Uzbek minority leader, and his long-time rival Ata Muhammad, who is Tajik. The spokesperson noted that fighting has subsided today, with 12 people reported killed or wounded in the clashes. The spokesperson added that a delegation has been sent to northern Afghanistan to investigate and stabilize the situation.