ISLAMABAD, APRIL 17, SPA _ PAKISTAN STEPPED UP SECURITYALONG ITS NORTHWESTERN BORDER TO STOP ANY TALIBAN MILITANTS FROM CROSSING INTO THE COUNTRY AS THEY RETREAT FROM A MAJOR OFFENSIVE BY U.S. AND AFGHAN FORCES IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN, AN ARMY OFFICIAL SAID MONDAY. SOME 2,500 AFGHAN AND COALITION FORCES BACKED BYHELICOPTER GUNSHIPS LAST WEEK BEGAN THE OFFENSIVE TO FLUSH OUT MILITANTS _ DUBBED OPERATION MOUNTAIN LION _ IN AFGHANISTAN’S KUNAR PROVINCE BORDERING PAKISTAN’S BAJUR TRIBAL REGION. PAKISTAN DEPLOYED TROOPS TO "SEAL" THE BORDER IN BAJUR AND THE NEARBY AREA OF DIR BECAUSE OF THE OPERATION ON THE AFGHAN SIDE, THE PAKISTAN ARMY OFFICIAL SAID ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE HE WASN’T AUTHORIZED TO COMMENT TO MEDIA. THE DEPLOYMENT WAS INTENDED TO "STOP THE SPILLOVER OF MISCREANTS" FROM AFGHANISTAN, HE SAID. PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIALS OFTEN REFER TO MILITANTS AS MISCREANTS, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. --SPA 1432 Local Time 1132 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/354205