Taliban, Al Qaeda Plotting in Pakistan

May 28, 2002

In an interview with the Times, Maj. Gen. Franklin Hagenbeck, commander of American-led forces in Afghanistan, said the two groups were operating with as many as 1,000 non-Afghan fighters in the tribal areas of western Pakistan.

Hagenbeck said that intelligence reports indicated the attacks plotted by Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in Pakistan included car and suicide bombings.

"We know that they are there and have a capability to do harm to this country," Hagenbeck said. "Our job is to deny them the freedom of movement and sanctuary."

Despite's Pakistan vow to eliminate the Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries in the tribal region, its ongoing tensions with India over Kashmir could delay Pakistani military operations in those areas.

"I have no concern that they are not going to do what they've said they will do. They are interested in ridding western Pakistan of Al Qaeda," Hagenbeck told the Times. "With what is currently going on in India, I don't know what the timing's going to be."

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