Washington – Al-Qaeda has strongholds throughout Pakistan, not just in the areas along the border with Afghanistan that were stressed in a terrorism assessment this week, according to U.S. intelligence officials and counterterrorism experts who say Osama bin Laden’s network is even more deeply entrenched than described.
The National Intelligence Estimate, which reflected the consensus of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, described al-Qaeda as rejuvenated and freely operating from bases in northwestern Pakistan.
But several officials and outside experts interviewed since the document’s release said the situation is more complex.
These analysts said the Bush administration was blaming al-Qaeda’s resurgence too narrowly on an agreement that Pakistan struck with tribal leaders in the country’s northwest territories in September.
In recent years, U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism officials who specialize in South Asia have watched with growing concern as al-Qaeda has moved men, money and recruiting and training operations into Pakistani cities such as Quetta and Karachi as well as less populated areas of the country.
Militant Islamists are still a minority in Pakistan – commanding allegiance of just over 10 percent of the population, judging by election returns. But al-Qaeda has been able to widen its sway by strengthening long-standing alliances with radical fundamentalist religious groups, charities, criminal gangs, elements of government security forces and even political officials, officials said.
Bin Laden’s network also has strengthened ties to groups fighting for Pakistani control of Kashmir, a broadly popular cause throughout Pakistan.
“It is a much bigger problem than just saying it is a bunch of tribal Islamists in the fringe areas,” said Bruce Riedel, Pakistan expert at the CIA who retired last year after 30 years of counterterrorism experience.
