Extra 9,500 Pakistani troops at Afghanistan border

Pakistan has mobilized additional 9,500 troops to the border with Afghanistan to prevent militants from disrupting Afghan elections later this month.

Taliban-led insurgents planning to disrupt the Sept. 18 vote are believed to have sought sanctuary in some parts of Pakistan's tribal regions, drawing criticism from Afghan and U.S. officials following an upsurge in rebel attacks.

Thus, Pakistan now has about 80,000 forces at the border.

The deployment became real after an Aug. 28 meeting in Islamabad of senior military commanders from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States to review security for the Afghan vote, the AP reports.