US plans more aggressive action in Pakistan to root out al-Qaeda: Officials

The Bush Administration is said to be mulling more aggressive measures inside Pakistan to root out al-Qaeda militants, who are reportedly restructuring in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

Washington, July 19 : The Bush Administration is said to be mulling "more aggressive" measures inside Pakistan to root out al-Qaeda militants, who are reportedly restructuring in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

US officials have accused President Pervez Musharraf of adopting a 'hands-off approach' towards the tribal areas, which has resulted in the current 'serious situation.'

According to The New York Times, publicly, Washington has been forthright in supporting Musharraf, but some unnamed officials have voiced scepticism about the Pakistani leader's capability to be effective in the mountainous region.

"In weighing how to deal with the Qaeda threat in Pakistan, American officials have been meeting in recent weeks to discuss what some said was emerging as an aggressive new strategy, one that would include both public and covert elements," said an official.

On the military moves currently being made by Musharraf to fight al-Qaeda, they said Pakistani troops had been bloodied before by a mix of al-Qaeda leaders and tribes that view the territory as their own, The Nation reported.

"We've seen in the past that he (Musharraf) has sent people in and they get wiped out," one senior official involved in the internal debate said, adding, "You can tell from the language today that we take the threat from the tribal areas incredibly seriously. It has to be dealt with, if he can deal with it. But if he can't, he's got to build and borrow the capability."

"They said there was growing concern that pinprick attacks on Qaeda targets were not enough, but also said some new American measures might have to remain secret to avoid embarrassing General Musharraf."

The dispatch said, "At the White House, Ms. Townsend found herself in the uncomfortable position of explaining why American military action was focused in Iraq when the report (of National Intelligence Estimate) concluded that main threat of terror attacks that could be carried out in the United States emanated from the tribal areas of Pakistan".

ANI