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US on verge of taking a decision to strike terrorist groups

The United States appeared to be on the verge of taking a decision to strike terrorist groups suspected of attacks in New York and Washington on Tuesday September one, and extending that action to countries supporting prime suspect Osama Bin Laden and his network.

Pakistan buckled under intense US pressure and President Gen Pervez Musharraf, analysts say, had no choice but to agree to American demands after Secretary of State Colin Powell did some plain talking on Thursday.

But the US refused to take Islamabad's pledge to cooperate at face value, and has asked it to close its border with Afghanistan, allow American warplanes access through its airspace and provide Washington intelligence about the location of Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden and terrorists training camps, as a gesture of its sincerity.

Pakistani sources in New York said Washington had told Islamabad that it did not want any diplomatic answers but, rather, would insist on a plain, straightforward commitment to support any and all action against terrorism.

Musharraf, they added, had no choice but to agree, even though he is aware that any such action will draw down on him the wrath of fundamentalist Islamic groups who support the Taliban and who will make life difficult for him at home.

Pakistan had earlier attempted to get off the hook by having the president go on television to say that it does not support terrorism. Words won't do, the United States has insisted.

And Musharraf now finds himself firmly painted into a corner.

PTI

The Attack on America: The Complete Coverage

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