Islamabad turns into a fortress on SAARC summit eve

Army and commandos were taking up positions at strategic points around the city as SAARC leaders began arriving for the summit.

Pakistan's capital has been virtually turned into a fortress with army and commandos taking up positions at strategic locations and 10,000 police and paramilitary deployed around the city as SAARC leaders began arriving for the summit beginning on Sunday.

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Indian agencies have brought in high security gadgets for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's protection during his four-day stay in Pakistan.

The Serina Hotel, where Vajpayee will be staying, the Convention Centre, the venue of the SAARC Summit and even the Indian High Commission have been declared a 'Red Zone' by Pakistani security agencies and declared out-of-bounds for commoners.

After landing at Chaklala airport Vajpayee flies in a Pakistani Army helicopter to Islamabad.

Heavily armed commandos are maintaining a round-the-clock vigil at the airport which has been closed for the entire day on Saturday and for half-a-day tomorrow when the leaders of the seven SAARC nations would be arriving for the three-day Summit. Among the first to arrive were Prime Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan Surya Bahadur Thapa and Lyonvo Jigmi Thilley.

A large number of domestic and international flights have either been re-routed or cancelled.

Vajpayee, who would be extended close proximity protection by at least 50 personnel of the elite Special Protection Group, would be travelling in the capital city in armoured BMW cars specially brought from India.