Holbrooke says Al-Qaeda leaders holed up in Pak-Afghan border region

Washington, Jan. 8 (ANI): American officials believe that Al Qaeda leaders are holed up in the remote areas of the Pak-Afghan border, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has said.

The News quoted Holbrooke as saying that his country is concerned about the activities of the Haqqani group in Afghanistan.

Brushing aside the impression that US troops will start withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2011, Holbrooke said the situation would be reviewed in December this year, after which any decision regarding the withdrawal would be made.

While clarifying that he is not trying to mediate between Pakistan and India over problems between the two countries, he said he keeps the Indian officials posted on significant developments regarding the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He also assured Pakistan that his country will extend every kind of assistance to it over issues relating to power and water. (ANI)