The military operation by Pakistani Army in the Swat Valley and adjoining areas clubbed with consistent action by the US forces in Afghanistan has resulted in increased pressure on the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the region,the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Consequently it is highly possible that al-Qaeda leaders could move from this part of the world to other safer places,Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters,adding Somalia fits that bill under present circumstances. "As we have increased our operational tempo in Afghanistan,and as there are additional US and coalition forces flowing into Afghanistan,there is increased pressure put on the Taliban and al-Qaeda," he said. "Historically,what that has led to is them running across the border into Pakistan and seeking refuge in the safe haven there," he added. "But because we are now seeing an increased operational tempo from the Pakistani military as well,there is now pressure on both sides,from the east and the west,on those militants in that former safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," Morrell said. It would not at all be surprising if the pressure was such that some of those terrorists thought it wiser to leave that area if they could,and go to another ungoverned or less-than-optimally governed space. "I think Somalia would fit that bill. Obviously,Yemen is having problems right now with terrorists in its midst and its ability to confront that problem. So it would not be surprising. But I wouldn't speak to you as it seemed as though somebody in the paper did about what the intelligence is showing regarding that," Morrell said.
