Pakistan News And Discussion-9

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<b>Analysts: Al Qaeda has safe haven in Pakistan frontier</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Story Highlights
<i>• Pakistan-Afghanistan border seen as al Qaeda host, intelligence official says
• View stems from recent Pakistani government pact with tribal leaders
• U.S. has long suspected area was haven for Taliban, as well</i>
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pakistan's tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan have become an accepted haven for al Qaeda leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, a senior U.S. intelligence official told CNN on Wednesday.

That's not a formal assessment, the official said, but a growing view by U.S. intelligence analysts in the months<b> since the Pakistani government reached an agreement with tribal authorities to not threaten the region's autonomy as long as the tribes agreed not to harbor foreigners</b>.

The official told CNN that "the training camps are full" in the region, suggesting al Qaeda activity.

<b>"This is a real safe haven to operate from. I am not talking about Taliban, I am talking about al Qaeda central," he said, referring to core members of al Qaeda.</b> 

The official said that before the agreement, Pakistani authorities were able to impede the ability of al Qaeda to regroup in the region. Now, the official said, it is easier for al Qaeda to operate.
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