Taliban, al-Qaida collusion noted

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The top U.S. military official says he's concerned about the growing Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida collusion and other extremist groups taking refuge in Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the additional U.S. troops ordered by President Barack Obama should know insurgency in Afghanistan has grown "more violent, more pervasive and more sophisticated," said the transcript on the Web site of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mullen, citing the estimate of U.S. commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal, said the insurgents now have dominant influence in 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. The insurgents also are getting more effective in the use of improvised explosive devices and small-unit tactics.

"I remain deeply concerned by the growing level of collusion between the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida and other extremist groups taking refuge across the border in Pakistan," the admiral said.

"Getting at this network, which is now more entrenched, will be a far more difficult task than it was just one year ago."

He said he planned to discuss with both Afghan and Pakistani leaders "the extent to which we can all better cooperate and coordinate our activities to eliminate the safe havens from which these groups plan and operate."

Asked about U.S. plans for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Mullen said part of the mission "is to capture, kill bin Laden and (al-qaida No. 2 leader Ayman) Zawahiri and his other compatriots" and the long-term goal is the defeat of the entire al-Qaida network.