President George W Bush said on Saturday he was troubled by a US intelligence report finding that al Qaeda had become entrenched in a safe haven in Pakistan’s tribal region near Afghanistan.

But Bush offered support for embattled Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, saying he believes Musharraf was committed to fighting al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

A portion of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) made public this week found a “persistent and evolving” threat to the United States from Islamic militant groups, especially Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda.
In his weekly radio address, Bush said the report’s assessment that al Qaeda was gaining strength in the tribal region of Pakistan was “one of the most troubling”.

The White House has acknowledged that a truce Musharraf had reached last September with the tribal leaders had not worked and Bush said the leaders proved unwilling or unable to police the area themselves.
“President Musharraf recognises the agreement has not been successful or well-enforced and is taking active steps to correct,” Bush said.

Pakistani forces are in the fight against militants and the United States supports them, Bush said, adding, “We will work with our partners to deny safe haven to the Taliban and al Qaeda in Pakistan — or anywhere else in the world.”

“As time goes by, it can be tempting to think that the threat of another attack on our homeland is behind us,” Bush said. “The NIE report makes clear that the threat is not behind us.”