61.  The United States fears any redeployment by Pakistani forces may weaken the watch on the Afghan border to prevent infiltration by bin Laden and his al-Qaeda fighters.

62.  The United States has promised assistance for extra vigilence along the border, where small numbers of US troops are already helping Pakistani forces track down suspected terrorist leaders.

63.  They recently assisted Pakistani forces in a raid on an Islamic seminary in the northwestern tribal area, in search of a senior commander with the Taliban militia.

64.  Two MiGs were also shot down by Pakistani forces.

65.  US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in Washington earlier that several hundred al-Qaeda fighters had been detained by Afghan militia and across the border by Pakistani forces.

66.  US troops recently assisted Pakistani forces in a raid on an Islamic seminary in the northwestern tribal area, in search of a senior commander with the Taliban militia.

67.  Khan said Pakistani forces were effectively policing the border area.

68.  Khan was asked if US troops had accompanied Pakistani forces along the border.

69.  Meanwhile, in another development, Perry confirmed a US commitment to assist in the withdrawal of Pakistani peacekeeping forces stationed in Somalia by the end of March.

70.  Meanwhile, Pakistani forces fought intense gunbattles with Arab fighters who escaped detention after fleeing across the border.