US to thoroughly screen travellers from Pakistan, six other nations

Washington, Jan 4 (ANI): All air passengers bound for the United State from Pakistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria will be patted down and have carry-on luggage searched under new security procedures starting January 4, in the wake of the failed Detroit flight bombing bid.

As part of America's new stringent air security measures under the new US Transportation Security Administration rules, all air passengers entering the US will receive tightened random screening, while citizens from 14 terrorism-prone countries will also be patted down and have their carry-ons searched Politico quoted an unnamed senior Obama administration official as calling the new screening procedures "sustainable measures that are a significant enhancement of our security posture."

All passengers from countries on the State Department's "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list - plus all passengers from other "countries of interest" such as Nigeria, Pakistan and Yemen - will receive "full body pat-down and physical inspection of property," the official added.

The countries on the State Department list are Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Other countries covered by the TSA directive are Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Somalia.

"The screening "could also include explosive detection technology or advanced imaging technology where it's available" and the "enhanced security measures" apply to "all international flights to U.S. locations, including both U.S. and international carriers," the official said. (ANI)