Political turmoil is forcing Pakistan to scale back its operations against al Qaeda which has been regaining strength, according to a US intelligence official.
WASHINGTON: Political turmoil is forcing Pakistan to scale back its operations against al Qaeda which has been regaining strength to rebuild and plot new terror attacks in the West, according to a US intelligence official.
"Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing a potentially fateful election next month, appears too vulnerable to pursue aggressive counter-terrorism operations at the behest of the US," the 'Los Angeles Times' reported on Sunday, quoting the unnamed official as saying.
According to him, Pakistani retrenchment have already begun in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where senior Qaeda figures are hiding. "We're already beginning to see some signs of that. In the next few days, we're probably going to see a withdrawal of forces that the Pakistanis put there."
The move could solidify a "safe haven, where the (al Qaeda) leadership is secure, operational planners can do their business, and foreigners can come in and be trained and redeploy to the West", said the official who closely monitors Pakistan's pursuit of the terror network in the rugged region.
He feared that the development might affect a pillar of US counter-terrorism strategy which has depended on Pakistan to play a lead role in keeping al Qaeda under pressure to reduce its ability to coordinate strikes.
"We are worried. I think the prospect for aggressive action... is probably not good, no matter what," he said.
"If Musharraf is removed from office or agrees to a power-sharing arrangement with political foes, the change in government could well mean a diminution of cooperation on counter-terrorism," the official said.
It may be mentioned that Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden had declared war on Musharraf in a new audiotape released last week.
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