Islamabad takes issue with Negroponte over Al Qaida

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday disputed a claim by Director US National Intelligence John Negroponte that Al Qaida leaders had "secure hideout" on its soil.

Commenting on Negroponte's statement to the US Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, the foreign ministry here said Pakistan had done more than any other country in the world in "breaking the back of Al Qaida".

This fact, it said, had been appreciated by the international community and the US leadership.

"Pakistan remains committed to fighting international terrorism and extremism. In this endeavour, the focus must always remain on cooperation instead of questionable criticism," a foreign ministry statement said.

"When Mr Negroponte mentions the capture and killing of hundreds of Al Qaida members since 9/11, he should acknowledge the efforts of the country that made this possible," it added.

The statement said it was a fact that there were Al Qaida elements active in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe but it would be "incorrect to link them to any remnants of Al Qaida in Pakistan".

It said Pakistan continued to pursue these remnants as well as other terrorists and extremist elements. "We are addressing this challenge first and foremost in the interest of our security and peace and development of our society."

As part of international coalition against terrorism "our efforts are also helping the international community to counter this grave danger".

The foreign ministry noted the "positive" remarks of the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan on Thursday that Pakistan's help had been crucial in containing insurgency in Afghanistan.

Official sources in Islamabad pointed out that Negroponte's remarks could be an attempt to divert attention from the chaos in Iraq and the situation in Afghanistan amid pressures from a Congress dominated by Democrats.

Negroponte, the US national intelligence director, said in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that "eliminating the safe haven that the Taliban and other extremists have found in Pakistan's tribal areas is not sufficient to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, but it is necessary".

Nato and the Afghan government say Taliban and Al Qaida guerrillas are launching attacks on US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Violence rose sharply in Afghanistan in 2006, with militants killing about 4,000 people in what was the deadliest year since Taliban was removed from power.

US officials have said they believe Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden and other top terror commanders are taking refuge in the region, likely on the Pakistani side of the border. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected such claims.

The Foreign Ministry s Pakistan became a U.S. ally in the war against terrorism after it severed support for the Taliban militia in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US.

Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf said in a statement released after a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher in Islamabad yesterday that his country maintains "unwavering commitment to fight extremism and terrorism".