In an extraordinarily country-specific scrutiny, Pakistani nationals, immigrants and even Pakistan-born US citizens arriving at key US airports are being checked for injuries that might suggest they have been training at terrorist camps in Pakistan.
A two-page "action bulletin" issued by the US Customs and Border Protection calls for a close examination of all travellers of Pakistani descent for minor injuries such as "rope burns," "unusual bruises" and "scars" possibly suffered while training in terrorist camps.
The "For Official Use Only" bulletin, reported first in the website WorldNetDaily, says recent intelligence gathered in Pakistan and elsewhere indicates that individuals travelling to train at terrorist camps in Pakistan may be planning to carry out attacks within the United States between now and the presidential election in November.
The bulletin directs agents at major international airports in New York, New Jersey, Washington, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles to "increase scrutiny" of passengers who are naturalized US citizens or legal permanent residents of Pakistani descent, and "who exhibit evidence of suspicious travel, including short trips to Pakistan not related to family or business."
The bulletin indicates that despite
the period certification of Islamabad as an ally in the war on terrorism
by state department mandarins, US law enforcement and counter-terrorism
officials believe Pakistan is still a hotbed of terrorist activity. The
bulletin asks inspectors examine travellers of Pakistani descent for physical
signs that they've engaged in paramilitary training in Pakistan. For example,
"officers should look for indications the individual engaged in rappelling
activities (rope burns on arms/legs)." In addition, it says they should
look for "unusual bruises resulting from obstacle course activities," and
"wounds" or "scars" suffered from the discharge of firearms.