LONDON, Feb 28: US President George Bush is planning a visit to Afghanistan this weekend, his first to the country since the US-led invasion in 2001. Security round the president will be tighter than usual because the remnants of the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters are still able to mount attacks.

The White House is refusing to confirm the visit. Marvin Weinbaum, a former state department analyst for Pakistan and Afghanistan, speaking at a briefing organised by the Brookings Institution, said Mr Bush had no alternative but to go to Afghanistan.

“He’s in the neighbourhood. Laura Bush (First Lady) went. Can he not go if Laura Bush took the chance and was more exposed actually - not much more, but more exposed than the president will certainly be?” —Dawn-Guardian News Service