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U.S. on lookout for terrorists trained in Pakistan

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JULY 1. Inspectors of the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection are on the lookout for travellers of Pakistani descent including American citizens who have "rope burns, unusual bruises or scars," says a report in The Washington Times.

The law enforcement personnel will be focussing on at least six major airports in the country including the Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C.

The search for this particular group of travellers is out of the belief that these may have been received at terrorist training camps run by Islamist extremists.

According to The Times, an internal security bulletin of the Department of Homeland Security has warned inspectors of Customs and Border Protection that potential terrorists trained in Pakistan might seek to return to enter the U.S. between now and the presidential election of November 2, to carry out attacks.

"It basically told them to be on the lookout for passengers that may have had certain activities or lack thereof when travelling to and from Pakistan. This is a regular occurrence and there is no specific threat associated with it. At the same time, we asked inspectors to look at certain activities of travellers coming into the U.S.," an official has been quoted as saying.

The June 17 bulletin directed Federal agents to be on the lookout for foreign travellers, naturalised American citizens or permanent residents of Pakistani descent "who exhibit evidence of suspicious travel, including short trips to Pakistan not related to family or business".

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