Security forum: Chances of another 9/11 ruled out
Former US National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) director Michael Leiter has said that the US has greatly reduced the chance of another 9/11 style attack emanating from Pakistan.
Speaking at a session on the role of the NCTC at the Aspen Security Forum and accompanied by current director Matthew Olsen, Leiter said that the US has been doing very well in terms of gains against al Qaeda in Pakistan.
“It’s not impossible, but very difficult for al Qaeda in Pakistan to launch an attack outside its borders,” said Leiter.
Olsen said that the issues with Pakistan are much broader than just counterterrorism. He added that the country faced political, military and security challenges.
David Sanger, author of Conceal and Confront and moderator of the session, asked the two about the threat of nuclear arms falling into the hands of militants in Pakistan.
Leiter said that that possibility remained a concern, and that both countries in the past had worked on the issue. He added that in a country that had militants launching sophisticated attacks on military installations, the US had reason to be concerned.
The Aspen Security Forum will feature speakers from current and former US administrations. Ambassadors from Pakistan and Afghanistan are also scheduled to address the forum.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1722415155-0/BeFunky-collage-(18)1722415155-0-165x106.webp "article")
1717051338-0/BeFunky-collage-(76)1717051338-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732002687-0/Untitled-design-(11)1732002687-0-270x192.webp "five held for stealing railway equipment")
1732000005-0/Express-Tribune-(2)1732000005-0-270x192.webp "lahore second karachi ranks fourth in world s most polluted cities list")
@nasir: "uncle Osama" was living in Afghanistan. The leadership of the Taliban was living in Afghanistan. 9/11 was planned in Afghanistan. After American invasion, militants crossed over from Afghanistan into Pakistan - and hence the mess we see today.
Hope that answers your questions and short memory..
@Ali: If we break our ties with terrorists, the world and Pakistan would be a safer place. Nobody would worry about our nukes then.
There is a danger that now the same regime who was behind 9/11 is trying to execute some destructive plan at London Olympics to pursue their evil agenda.
@Salman: Was uncle Osama living in Pakistan? , is the leadership of the taliban living in pakistan? , is almost every terrorist plot around the globe have some connection to pakistan? , do most individuals cross into afganistan from pakistan? - grow up!
There is a high chance of false flag in London Olympics. Be wary of drills in London.
From Pakistan? Was the first 9/11 being organised from Pakistan? Hypocritical Americans. All they know is how to destroy countires and kill people, when they say human rights, they mean american rights.
@Enlightened: yeah most of the countries (INDIA - ISRAEL) give us a break.i think you should have some concerns about nukes gone missing in india(if you want i can give you ref or you can google and check it) nothing like that has happened in Pakistan though.We very well know how to defend our nukes. Our existence relies on them and our security wont let anything happen to them.
Actually, the US needed to bomb the place that spreads this ideology of terrorism, the same place most of the 9/11 attackers were from. Otherwise, there will always be this threat.
Its not US but most of the countries in this region are deeply concerned about nukes in Pakistan falling into the wrong hands. However, chances of another 9/11 happening in the West is extremely remote but the same cannot be ruled out in Pakistan, keeping in view of presence of large number of religious extremist groups in this country who are bent upon enforcing Sharia in Pakistan.
The arab alqaeda carried out 9/11 then why are you killing hapeless afghans??
Yeah, the US has made sure that all future attacks only happen inside Pakistan, although not a single Pakistani was involved in 9/11.
What a shame that for oil US can side with Saudi when most if not all attackers of 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia.
Shame on the US of A!!!!
which means there might be something serious happening.
Another Drama script is being written?
Inshallah !!