The Bush Administrations nominee for the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen has expressed concerns about the re-emergence of al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistans Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Lahore, Aug 2 : The Bush Administration's nominee for the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen has expressed concerns about the re-emergence of al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Answering questions at a Senate hearing ahead of his nomination, Admiral Mullen said, "I am concerned with the speed with which al Qaeda safe havens are building up, and the terrorist organisation growing in strength in Pakistan."
Admiral Mullen said he was also concerned about the speed with which the Pakistan Army is operating in FATA.
"I don't know - I honestly don't know...how fast they (Pakistan Army) could move," he was quoted, as saying
Commenting about Pakistan Foreign Ministry's reaction to the possibility of American forces attacking al Qaeda in FATA, Admiral Mullen said that with a threat like al Qaeda, "we need to rest comfortably at some point that it is being addressed".
The US should address such a threat at full throttle, the daily Times quoted him, as saying.
ANI