Al Qaeda and its extremist allies are under tremendous pressure in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the global terror network has been weakened elsewhere by popular Muslim disaffection due to its targeting of the community people, a top US official has said.
“Al Qaeda has been weakened by popular Muslim disaffection from its indiscriminate targeting of Muslims in Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and elsewhere.
The number of imams, clerics and former militants speaking out against the organisation is increasing. This is a positive and important story," Robert F Godec, Principal Deputy Co-coordinator for Terrorism in the State Department said.
There is “growing resolve” in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to “defeat” Al Qaeda, he added.