By Isambard Wilkinson in Islamabad
The United States has stepped up missile strikes against al-Qa'eda militants in Pakistan's tribal areas amid fears of decreased co-operation from the new government.
Washington wants to inflict as much damage as it can on al-Qa'eda's network before President Pervez Musharraf loses his grip on power, according to a report published today.
Unnamed US officials told The Washington Post that the strikes followed a "tacit understanding" with Mr Musharraf and the army chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani, that permits US strikes on foreign rebels but not against Pakistani Taliban. In the past three months missiles fired by US Predator drones hit at least three sites used by suspected al-Qa'eda militants near the Afghan border. The report quoted an official as describing the strikes as a "shake the tree" strategy designed to force Osama bin Laden and key lieutenants to move in ways that US intelligence can detect. American concerns over Pakistani cooperation have risen since Mr Musharraf's allies lost elections last month. |
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