RAWALPINDI, March 1: Two battalions of army, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and hundreds of police and US marines equipped with high-tech electronic jammers and bomb detectors will cordon off Islamabad during the visit of US President George W. Bush to Pakistan, security sources said.

Meanwhile, the airfield will be closed for one hour prior to the landing of Airforce 1 (the official aircraft of the US president) at the heavily guarded Chaklala Airbase, the sources said.

They said that the district administration had requested the federal government for provision of two battalions of army to strengthen security. A final session of the top level security meeting will be held on Thursday.

A security official said that the Constitution Avenue and the sites which President Bush was scheduled to visit had been declared as “Red Zone”. However, a separate traffic plan has been chalked out to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during the VVIP movements.

“We are fully prepared and taking unprecedented security measures,” a senior official of the district administration told Dawn. He said schools, colleges and offices would remain open during the US president’s visit. The leaves of all police personnel have also been cancelled.

Two US aircraft carrying advance security teams and equipment have already landed at the Chaklala Airbase and are holding meetings with Pakistani security officials. A three-ring security cordon would be part of tight security. The inner most security ring would comprise US marines.

Anti-aircraft guns would be installed at the hilltops and the rooftops of the buildings in the Red Zone.

As part of security, Afghan nationals employed at the local hotels have been advised to stay at their homes till the departure of the US president.

Security personnel would keep an eye on the VVIP movements while sitting in helicopters, while night visions goggles have been provided to the security personnel.

The district administration has also sought scanning machines from the Airport Security Force (ASF) and sniffer dogs from the army dog centre to assist the police.