U.S. does not plan military raids into Pakistan, says officer

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan said on Wednesday there are no plans to send American troops into neighboring Pakistan's tribal areas where al Qaeda is rebuilding and its leader, Osama bin Laden, is thought to be hiding.

Washington has been buzzing with speculation, fueled by tough talk by Bush administration officials, that the U.S. may change its policy of non-intervention and send troops into Pakistan to battle islamic militants. A U.S. intelligence report earlier this month said al Qaeda has been able to reorganize networks in Pakistan's wild tribal regions.

But Army Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez told reporters at the Pentagon that, "We've made no plans to use any U.S. forces on their side of the border. They're a sovereign country."

Fran Townsend, a national security adviser to President Bush, said Sunday that "there are no options off the table" in coming up with a way to attack al Qaeda in the tribal areas.

Much of the blame for al Qaeda's resurgence in Pakistan has been laid at the feet of President Pervez Musharraf. Last year, after his troops engaged in a series of bloody battles with militants believed to be protecting bin Laden, he agreed to a cease-fire. The agreement was supposed to end the terrorists' safe haven, but in fact al Qaeda has been able to reorganize.

Pakistani troops have become more active in recent weeks. U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani troops are now conducting operations along the border to stop the flow of insurgents.

The U.S. operates under strict rules of engagement. Units cannot cross into Pakistan unless they are in hot pursuit. If bin Laden or another key al Qaeda leader is located, the U.S. defense secretary may approve a special mission. The CIA operates inside Pakistan, aided by several Predator spy drones.

"[Bin Laden is] real effective at hiding in amongst population centers or in isolated parts of the countries here," Rodriguez said. "That's how he's been able to elude us finding him."

Al Qaeda is slipping foreign fighters inside Afghanistan in a tactic similar to the terror group's operations in Iraq.

Rodriguez, speaking from Afghanistan via a tele-conference, said the foreigners come from various Middle East countries and organize groups of fighters once inside Afghanistan.

"There's a presence of al Qaeda in this insurgency," said Rodriguez, noting that the main enemy is Taliban fighters ousted from power in December 2001.

rscarborough@dcexaminer.com

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