Context
The US is close to strategically defeating Al-Qaeda after the assassination of Bin Laden and is willing to target other key commanders of the terror group in Yemen and Pakistan, new US defense secretary said on Sunday. “I was convinced in my prior capacity [as CIA chief] and I’m convinced in this capacity that we’re within reach of strategically defeating al Qaeda,” Leon Panetta told journalists en route to Afghanistan, his first foreign visit as the defense secretary.
Meanwhile, Pakistani military has said it expects US to share intelligence regarding Ayman Al-Zawahri and other high value Al-Qaeda targets. The statement by an Inter Services Pubic Relations (ISPR) spokesman was issued Sunday in response to Panetta’s remarks that he believes Zawahri was living in Pakistani tribal areas.
