ARAB-US RELATIONS - Sept. 26 - Washington Fears Al Qaida Leaders Fleeing.

Visiting Islamabad, the delegation of senior US Defence Department officials, led by Brig.-Gen. Kevin Chilton, expresses its concern in talks with Pakistani counterparts that Al Qaida members might be among the thousands of people crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan. (In reflection of this concern, Interpol has put out a world alert for Bin Ladin's second in command, Ayman Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon. Zawahiri, seen by some intelligence experts as Bin Ladin's successor, has reportedly left Afghanistan). The US delegation shares with Pakistani authorities evidence implicating Bin Ladin in the attacks on New York and Washington. It also outlines plans to use Pakistani airspace and military facilities and to exchange intelligence in support of a possible attack on Afghanistan. The Governor of the North-West Frontier Province Lt.-Gen. Iftikhar Hussain Shah says Pakistan will keep the border sealed. But he says any refugees who already entered Pakistan illegally will be allowed to stay. (On Sept. 24, a statement sent to Qatar-based TV channel Al Jazeera, purporting to be from Bin Ladin, called on Pakistanis not to assist the "American crusaders". Pakistani officials said they doubted the statement's authenticity).