Olympic torch arrives in Islamabad

The plane carrying the flame touched down at Chaklala military airbase and was welcomed by dignitaries gathered on a red carpet.

The Olympic torch, symbol of the 2008 Games in Beijing, arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad amid heavy security early on Wednesday on the first stop in its Asian leg of a world tour.

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The plane carrying the flame touched down at Chaklala military airbase and was welcomed by dignitaries gathered on a red carpet, live footage on state television showed.

Pakistani authorities this week slashed the torch's route for security reasons, although the pro-China government is hoping to avoid the human rights protests that have dogged the early legs of the tour.