Washington, December 02: Al Qaeda’s leadership has established a safe haven in Pakistan after escaping across the Afghan border in 2001 and 2002, Says US President Barack Obama.
Announcing his new Afghan strategy last night, the President said, Over the last several years, the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda, as they both seek an overthrow of the Afghan government.
Gradually, the Taliban has begun to control additional swaths of territory in Afghanistan, while engaging in increasingly brazen and devastating attacks of terrorism against the Pakistani people.
Mr Obama, however, said al Qaeda has not reemerged in Afghanistan in the same numbers as before 9/11, but they retain their safe havens along the border. ”And our forces lack the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and
better secure the population,” Mr Obama said.
He said, ”Our new commander in Afghanistan General McChrystal has reported that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated. In short, the status quo is not sustainable.”
Mr Obama said, he did do not make this decision about the new strategy lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.
–Agencies