US report questions Pakistani efforts against Qaeda

WASHINGTON: A White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan concludes that Pakistan's military avoided direct conflict this spring with the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda militants, in part for political reasons.

The biannual evaluation of progress in the war also said devastating monsoon flooding in August has prompted Pakistan to scale back its military effort against the insurgents, a move that could ultimately result in gains for the militants.

"The Pakistan military (between April 1 and June 30) continued to avoid military engagements that would put it in direct conflict with Afghan Taliban or al-Qaeda forces in North Waziristan," the report said.

"This is as much a political choice as it is a reflection of an under-resourced military prioritizing its targets," said the report, which was compiled by the White House National Security Council and sent to Congress earlier this week.

It included a cover letter from President Barack Obama saying no adjustments to the Afghan war strategy were needed.

It is a sensitive time for U.S.-Pakistani relations.

Cross-border incursions by U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani border guards this week, prompting Pakistan to close a border checkpoint to trucks ferrying supplies to international forces in Afghanistan.

Since then militants have repeatedly destroyed trucks ferrying U.S. supplies, including seven vehicles on Wednesday.

The NSC report came just two weeks ahead of a third round of the U.S.-Pakistan strategic dialogue, which aims to reverse

decades of mistrust between the two countries.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs played down the significance of the report. "I don't think it is surprising that we have challenges in that region of the world. Our belief is that despite those challenges we are making important progress," he told reporters.

COUNTERINSURGENCY STATUS QUO

The report used eight measures to evaluate the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, including progress toward disrupting terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan and degrading their ability to launch international terrorists attacks.

Details of the efforts against terrorist networks were contained in a classified annex that was not released. But the unclassified report did discuss efforts to support Pakistan's counterinsurgency initiatives.

Record monsoon flooding in August prompted Pakistan to shift its counterinsurgency strategy from clearing out insurgents in the northwest to holding the ground they had already taken, the report said.

"The current military effort to maintain the status quo could ultimately result in militant gains if extremist groups remain undisturbed in their safe havens," it said.

On the other hand, the Pakistani military's flood relief efforts have boosted its standing with the population, which the report said could improve its counterinsurgency effectiveness once the country has recovered.

The report criticized President Asif Ali Zardari, whose popularity has slumped, for traveling to Europe after the August floods, saying the move had "exacerbated inter-party tensions, civil-military relations, and damaged his image." AGENCIES