US 'to take terror war to Pakistan'

The US is planning to extend the military offensive in eastern Afghanistan, in which Royal Marines are playing a major role, to Pakistan, Pentagon officials have said.

Intelligence reports indicate that Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders may be holed up in no-man's land in Pakistan, just across the border with Afghanistan.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "No decision has been made yet but if the US military does conduct operations in Pakistan it will be with the full cooperation of the [Pakistani] government."

Recently police in Pakistan, acting on a tip from US intelligence, rounded up 50 al Qaeda suspects in a dozen different places, including Bin Laden's operations director Abu Zabada. President Bush said the US is closing in on al Qaeda leaders, adding: "Ask Zabada what it's like to be on the wrong side of America." The allied offensive in Afghanistan involves Royal Marines, American and Afghan troops. A large percentage of the marines are in non-combat support roles and Pentagon officials would not say whether British forces would be used in any cross-border operation.

US spokesman Major Bryan Hilferty said the current operation is the first large-scale allied combat offensive since last month's Anaconda, a 12-day assault on Taliban and al Qaeda forces in the eastern Shah-e-Kot mountains.

However, Brigadier John Rosa of the US air force said he does not believe there has been any contact with al Qaeda or Taliban fighters since the operation began on Monday.