Al-Qaeda’s global base is Pakistan: Petraeus
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The News, Pakistan
Sunday, May 10, 2009
WASHINGTON: Senior leaders of al-Qaeda are using sanctuaries in Pakistan’s lawless frontier regions to plan new terror attacks and funnel money, manpower and guidance to affiliates around the world, according to a top American military commander.
Gen David Petraeus, who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in an interview that Pakistan has become the nerve centre of al-Qaeda’s global operations, allowing the terror group to re-establish its organisational structure and build stronger ties to al-Qaeda offshoots in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, North Africa and parts of Europe.
The comments underscore a growing US belief that Pakistan has replaced Afghanistan as al-Qaeda’s main stronghold.
“It is the headquarters of the al-Qaeda senior leadership,” said the general, who took the helm of the military’s Central Command last fall.
In the interview, Gen Petraeus also warned of difficult months ahead in Afghanistan, saying the Taliban militants are moving weapons and forces into areas where the US is adding troops, planning a “surge” of their own to counter the US plan.
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Labels: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism, US
posted @ 8:09 PM,
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