'Al Qaeda will rely on Pak militants in carrying out transnational terror attacks in 2012'

Washington, Feb 1(ANI): The Al Qaeda will increasingly rely on ideological and operational alliances with Pakistani militants to carry out transnational terror attacks in 2012, US National Intelligence Director James Clapper has said.

"We judge al Qaida operatives are balancing support for attacks in Pakistan with guidance to refocus the global jihad externally against US targets. Al Qaida will increasingly rely on ideological and operational alliances with Pakistani militant factions to accomplish its goals with Pakistan and to conduct transnational attacks," The Express Tribune quoted Clapper, as telling the US intelligence committee.

"Pakistan military leaders have had limited success against al Qaida operatives, other foreign fighters and Pakistani militants who pose a threat to Islamabad," he added.

He was speaking at a meeting attended by US intelligence community leaders, which focused on worldwide threats in 2012.

Clapper predicted that the core group of al Qaeda will "suffer sustained degradation, diminished cohesion and decreasing influence in the coming year," due to sustained counter-terrorism efforts.

He stressed on the need for positive US-Pak ties but pointed out that their interests sometimes differed and that Pakistan viewed India as an existentialist threat.

CIA Director General (retd.) David Petraeus said that the US needed engagement and diplomacy in improving ties with Pakistan.

He said that US-Pak ties on the level of intelligence services were productive and communication was still going on. (ANI)