India's Taj Mahal is being covered with dark cloth to protect it from possible raids by Pakistani aircraft.

The Aaj Kal newspaper says officials at the Archaeological Survey of India are currently in Agra to supervise the covering.

Ladders and ropes are being mounted in an operation to camouflage the dome and its minarets.

The monument was last camouflaged during India's 1971 war with Pakistan.

"It is ironic that a monument of love has to be protected from hatred but we can't be too sure. After the attack on the parliament, anything can happen. Since tensions are high at the border, we have instructions to take every possible precaution," a senior official told the newspaper.

Story filed: 17:51 Friday 28th December 2001