Stating that Al-Qaida was able to establish an unprecedented safe haven along Pakistan-Afghan border in the past 18 months, the CIA chief has warned that the situation there presented clear danger to the two nations, as also to the United States.
Speaking to TV show 'Meet The Press', General Micheal Hayden termed the 2006 peace deal between Pakistan government and the pro-Taliban tribals in North Waziristan as "absolutely disastrous", and neither confirmed nor denied US operations in the border areas.
The CIA Director also made it clear that he was not in a position to confirm if President Pervez Musharraf will be in his position beyond June.
"I can't talk about -- confirm or deny any, any operational activity by CIA or any other organ of the US government. But what I can tell you about is the situation along the the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which presents a clear and present danger to Afghanistan, to Pakistan and to the West in general, and to the United States in particular" Hayden said.
"It's very clear to us that al-Qaida has been able, over the past 18 months or so, to establish a safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area that they have not enjoyed before, that they are bringing operatives into that region for training, operatives that -- the phrase I would use, Tim (anchor), wouldn't attract your attention if they were going through the customs line at Dulles (Washington's International Airport) with you when you're coming back from overseas," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"It's very clear to us that al-Qaida has been able, over the past 18 months or so, to establish a safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area that they have not enjoyed before, that they are bringing operatives into that region for training, operatives that -- the phrase I would use, Tim (anchor), wouldn't attract your attention if they were going through the customs line at Dulles (Washington's International Airport) with you when you're coming back from overseas," he said.
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