The Pakistan government does not believe Taliban or al-Qaida officials have moved from the tribal border region to Pakistan's southwestern-most province and would oppose expanding US drone strikes there, a government official said.
The Pakistani reaction followed a New York Times report Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering proposals to expand air strikes into the province of Baluchistan to target al-Qaida and Taliban officials.
US intelligence officials believe some militant leaders have fled there to avoid the US drone attacks in the lawless tribal region to the north. The proposals are part of an ongoing larger review of US strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan to counter terrorist organizations and help stabilise both countries, according to the Times.
"As far as we're concerned we do not think Taliban leadership or al-Qaida are present in Baluchistan or Quetta as some suggest," said a Pakistan embassy official, who asked for anonymity to discuss the sensitive intelligence issue.
"If there is any evidence of Taliban or al-Qaida, we are available for intelligence sharing and we will take immediate action," the official said."
Pakistan has repeatedly objected to Predator drone strikes in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas along Pakistan's northwest frontier with Afghanistan, believed by US intelligence to be home to al-Qaida leaders.
