Pakistan 'unreliable' ally of US in war against terrorism: Joe Biden

Washington, Sept 13(ANI): Pakistan has been an unreliable ally of the United States in the war against al Qaeda and other extremist organizations, US Vice President Joe Biden has said.

In an interview with the CNN on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Biden said that Pakistan has failed "on occasion" when forced to choose between the US and al Qaeda.

The price of Pakistan's choices has been the "loss of life of American soldiers in Afghanistan," the vice president said.

Islamabad has "been very helpful in other times," he noted. "But it's not sufficient. They have to get better. We need a relationship that is born out of mutual interest. And it's in their interest that they be more cooperative with us."

"We are demanding it," Biden said during the interview.

Despite troubles in Pakistan and elsewhere, the US is "getting close" to bringing about an end to organised, legitimised terrorist activities, he said.

"We have done great damage to ... al Qaeda," said Biden. "Satellite organizations" have emerged in Somalia and elsewhere, he said, but "they are less coordinated" and "less capable", and "we're relentless in pursuing them."

As a result, Americans are safer today than they were a decade ago, Biden asserted, but also cautioned that "there is always a possibility of a lone wolf" attack within the United States or elsewhere.

"There's always a possibility of an incident occurring, but I do not believe there's anyone right now capable of putting together the kind of extremely complicated planned operation that took place on 9/11," he said.

Biden said he believes that in 25 years, Americans will "read about this period of terror as ... a part of a chapter in the history of this country." (ANI)