Afghan Troops Lured Into Caves

WASHINGTON, Thursday - Rather than risk the lives of US troops in the search for Osama bin Laden in the caves of Tora Bora, the US military is offering incentives to Afghan forces to take the lead, The New York Times said yesterday. US troop deployment to the mountains of eastern Afghanistan where remnants of bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network are still likely holed up has been put on hold while Afghan commanders are pressed to probe the area, US officials told the daily. The Afghan fighters are being offered incentives including weapons, money and winter clothing, said the officials. “It is a matter of finding the right mix of incentives to get them to play a more active role,” a military official in Washington said. “If we are successful, they will do it.” However, the official said if the Afghan militia balk at committing the number of troops US military leaders believe are needed for the job, US troops might be sent in. AFP Ends