December 29, 2001	Saturday	Shawwal 13, 1422

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Dec 28: Unusual activity was witnessed at the Dera Ismail Khan airport late Thursday night when two US helicopters and one aircraft with more than two dozens Marine Commandos on board landed at the airport.

All roads leading to the airport were blocked and army personnel were deputed along the roads at the time of the landing of the choppers and aircraft. The commandos left in two groups after staying at the airport for two hours, informed sources told Dawn.

Apparently, one of the groups left for Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, while the other went to Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan Agency, the sources said.

According to the sources, some religious figures of the area are suspected to have been providing shelter to Osama bin Laden and Mulla Mohammad Omar after they fled Afghanistan in the wake of the US bombing and the fall of Taliban government.

The SSP of Dera Ismail Khan, Mr Arif Nawaz, said that some aircraft had landed at the airport, but denied having any knowledge about the US commandos.