Female sky marshals a first for Pakistan 9 finish grueling training alongside men, a major step in Islamic society

KARACHI, Pakistan--An elite force of karate-kicking anti-terrorist fighters will begin riding on domestic Pakistani passengerjets this month. The new sky marshals are gaining attention inPakistan's conservative Islamic society--not only for their skillsbut because they include nine women.

The first female sky marshals last month completed a 10-week, hand-to-hand combat course so grueling that some of their 49 maleclassmates dropped out. Only one woman failed to finish--because shebroke her wrist.

The women say they're ready to keep Pakistan safe from terroristattacks. But they also see themselves as making inroads in a societywhere women are widely seen as …