Thousands of Pakistani troops have been deployed to protect the Olympic torch which has touched down in Islamabad.

The flame arrived in the capital by plane from Oman on the latest stage of its journey towards the Beijing Games.

Security fears mean the torch will be paraded along a much shorter route than originally intended when it is taken to the city's main sports stadium later.

Protests against China's policies on Tibet and Darfur have forced previous relay legs to be shortened or diverted.

Pakistan has gone to great lengths to avoid any repeat during the flame's short stay en route to Beijing.

Historic ties

China's ambassador to Pakistan was among the dignitaries waiting at a military section of Islamabad airport, where the flame arrived in the early hours of Wednesday.

Later around 60 Pakistani athletes are expected to carry the flame around the grounds of Jinnah stadium before a musical ceremony attended by President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Musharraf has just returned from a visit to China, with which Pakistan shares historic defence and economic links.

Human rights protests caused chaos during the torch's passage through London, Paris and San Francisco last week.

Subsequent stop-overs in Argentina, Tanzania and Oman have been largely trouble-free.

(BBC)

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