LONDON, Nov 16: One of the top priorities of the 4,000 British troops being deployed in Afghanistan is to stop possible vengeance attacks by the Northern Alliance against the Pakhtoon population in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, the Dawn learnt here.

The British government had to take swift action amid concerns that the Northern Alliance made up of the minority ethnic groupings from the north of Afghanistan might start to wreak vengeance against the erstwhile Pakhtoon supporters of the Taliban in the newly captured areas.

Keeping in view the seriousness of the situation, the British ministers called for swift action of sending British troops ahead of the deployment of multinational force that might take a while. The British troops have already started arriving at the Bagram airfield north of Kabul.

Their initial task is to repair the runway for the landing of 4,000 strong force on standby. These troops will carry out technical tasks in connection with future humanitarian operations and will secure the airport and then clear a pathway into the Afghan capital for any future aid missions.

Scores of troops landed in two transport aircraft, believed to include the 24-strong Pathfinder Platoon, a specialist reconnaissance unit; members of the Special Boat Service; troops from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment; Royal Marines and Royal Engineer units.

The Pathfinder Platoon is an advance force trained for covert reconnaissance, pinpointing helicopter landing zones and preparing the ground for other paratroops.

The defence sources said: “the make-up of the multinational stability force has not yet been resolved and added, the US, France, Canada and Jordan are all expected to participate.”