White House Promises Tougher Strategy In Pakistan

via AHN :

July 18, 2007 11:38 p.m. EST

Christopher Rizo - AHN Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN)-The White House said Wednesday that it will implement a tougher strategy to fighting al-Qaida in Pakistan, where critics say the terror network operates freely, compromising the U.S. mission in Iraq.

"There's no doubt that more aggressive steps need to be taken," White House spokesman Tony Snow said, acknowledging that Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has not been successful in controlling his nation's tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

The change came a day after the recent National Intelligence Estimate showed that al-Qaida has gained strength since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks despite an aggressive military campaign to cripple the organization led by Osama bin Laden.

While the bleak intelligence assessment, drafted by the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, described the al-Qaida branch in Iraq as the "most visible and capable affiliate" of the terror organization, officials noted that the group in Iraq remained focused on attacking Iraqi targets inside, and not those on U.S. or European soil.

Meanwhile, Pakistan said claims that al-Qaida is regrouping there are unsubstantiated, and asked Washington to provide it with "actionable intelligence," according to The Associated Press.

"We would firmly act to eliminate any al-Qaida hideout on the basis of specific intelligence or information," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

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