KABUL, Afghanistan, March 31 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines began arriving in Afghanistan Wednesday to intensify the hunt for al-Qaida and Taliban fugitives, officials said.
Bush administration officials said last week they are sending 2,000 Marines to Afghanistan to augment the search for al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, Taliban leader Mullah Omar and other militants.
International terrorism experts believe the Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are hiding in a tribal borderland dividing Pakistan and Afghanistan and keep crossing the border to avoid arrest.
On March 16, Pakistan launched a major military offensive on its side of the border. More than 100 people, including 63 militants, were killed during the operation, which was called off Sunday.
Although the military denies any link between the search and presidential election in the United States, observers say the arrest of such big fish as bin Laden or Mullah Omar would help President George Bush.
The extra Marines, deploying from ships in the Persian Gulf, will expand the U.S.-led force in Afghanistan to about 15,500.
