11 May,2009 02:26 PM IST | | PTI
Taliban in Pakistan is being bolstered by Al-Qaeda network in recent turmoil in Pakistan and success of the Islamic group to extend territorial gains could foreshadow the creation of "min-Afghanistan" around the country.
The turmoil in Pakistan is also being seized by Al-Qaeda to strengthen its presence in Pakistan and any creation of bases like "mini-Afghanistan" could allow militants more freedom to plot attacks, the New York Times reported quoting intelligence sources.
That Taliban was receiving backing from groups like Al-Qaeda, the paper said, was indicated when a UAV missile stuck an explosive-laden truck inside what was believed was an Al-Qaeda compound in South Waziristan.
The truck went off in a fireball and US intelligence officials estimate that the truck was loaded with high explosives and could be meant to have in use as a suicide bomb in support of the Taliban forces fighting the army in Swat and Buner.
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The bomb was more potent than the one used at the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad in September last year, which killed more than 50 people.
Intelligence official say that Taliban advances into Swat and Buner, which are closer to Islamabad than Waziristan, had already helped the Al-Qaeda in attracting more recruits from Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
