Increasing numbers of “North African” fighters in Pakistan: Washington’s concern

“New York Times” newspaper reported in its edition published last Thursday that American Intelligence Officials are worried about “North Africans” fighters increasing numbers, mostly coming from Algeria towards Pakistan in order to join armed men in association with “Al-Qaida” in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

• The newspaper reported that dozens of people from North African countries, in addition to Arabs from Gulf States have moved to Pakistan in recent months to promote “Al-Qaida” elements, who supported the Taliban rebels in the neighbouring Afghanistan.
• A U.S. spokesman in Baghdad told the newspaper that, foreign fighters, who are entering Iraq, number has decreased to 40 per month compared with 110 in the same month of last year.
• The newspaper had reported from U.S. officials as saying that this “ reflects a change making Pakistan, and not Iraq, the proffered destination for some extremists from the Middle east ,North Africa and Central Asia, seeking to fight the West”.