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United States on Tuesday provided hundreds of vehicles and communications equipment to border security forces in southwest Pakistan to bolster their efforts against Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives fleeing neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said.

Some 483 vehicles and 626 wireless sets were handed over to the Frontier Corps in Baluchistan province in the latest instalment under a 73-million-dollar security assistance package.

"This program is a partnership between the governments of Pakistan and United States to help secure Pakistan's 2,400 kilometer (1,500 miles) long border with Afghanistan," US ambassador Nancy Powell said at the handing over ceremony.

She said Washington was providing "these vehicles and communications equipment to help border security force to bring law and order to a region threatened by terrorism, drug trafficking and other forms of criminality."

The ambassador said the new equipment would help the provincial border security force to patrol rugged terrain more safely, denying terrorists and criminals safe haven in the border region.

The United States pledged the security assistance package to Pakistan since it became a frontline ally of Washington in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US.

Pakistan has deployed up to 70,000 troops along its western border to hunt down al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives seeking sanctuary among sympathisers in its tribal belt.

Early this month the US donated 400 vehicles and 750 telescopes worth 13.25 million dollars to border security force in North West Frontier Province under the package. 

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