Afghanistan has sent hundreds of extra troops to its border with Pakistan to prevent any attempt by al Qaeda militants, who may include Osama bin Laden’s deputy, fleeing from a Pakistani military onslaught, officials said. Kabul was in close touch with Islamabad but had no independent confirmation that al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahri was among militants in a compound under assault in Pakistan’s South Waziristan region, Foreign Ministry spokesman Omar Samad said Friday. However he said “a few hundred” extra troops had been sent to the border region in Paktika province, opposite the area of the Pakistani operation, to help block off any escape route. “There is a heightened alert and state of readiness,” he said. “They have been sent there to make sure Afghan territory is secure.” Full Story