Taliban is resurgent, al Qaeda increasing attacks: Obama

"The Taliban is resurgent and al Qaeda is increasing its attacks from its safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.

"The funding provided in this Act will ensure that the full force of the US is engaged in an overall effort to defeat al Qaeda and uproot this safe haven," he said yesterday.

Obama said the funding contained in this Act will provide resources to help create political and economic stability in post-conflict areas.

"These funds will assist Afghans and Iraqis in protecting and sustaining their infrastructure and building their capacity for more responsive and transparent governance," he said.

The Act also provides critical support for continued US diplomatic and development activity in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Obama said.