Terror Attacks Expected in Pakistan

May 23, 2002

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- Washington expects another terrorist attack in Pakistan, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan said Thursday.

Wendy Chamberlin said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has "stirred up a hornets' nest" by cracking down on Islamic extremists.

"I expect there will be another attack here," she said in an interview with The Associated Press a week before wrapping up her assignment in Pakistan.

Chamberlin, who took up her post last August, is returning to the United States for family reasons.

There have been three attacks on foreigners since Sept. 11, and in each case the suspects are Islamic extremists believed to have ties to al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.

American Daniel Pearl, the South Asia bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped Jan. 23 and later killed.

Four people, including two Americans, died on March 17 when grenade-hurling terrorists attacked a Christian church frequented by foreigners.

A third attack on May 11 killed 14 people, including 11 French engineers helping Pakistan build an Agosta submarine.

Britain on Wednesday recalled some of its diplomats from Pakistan and urged its citizens to avoid traveling there, citing terrorist threats made against two British consulates. The Australian government also urged its citizens to leave the country.

Chamberlin said Musharraf is as much the target of extremist elements as the United States. Two of the three attacks on foreigners were a direct assault on his authority - one in the heavily defended capital and another against the Pakistan Navy.

Concerning the rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, she said the situation is "very serious."

"We are very concerned about the threat of war," she said.

Pakistan is considering redeploying troops now helping U.S. special operatives hunt for al-Qaida and Taliban fugitives to the border with India.

Chamberlin said Pakistan's assistance in tracking down al-Qaida and Taliban has been unfailing.

"Pakistan has no interest in having uncontrollable al-Qaida on their soil. They are making extra effort to stop that," she said.

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