Al Qaeda still threat from Pakistan: US official

WASHINGTON: Al Qaeda still has the capacity to stage international attacks from Pakistan despite US forces' killing of the extremist network's leader Osama bin Laden, a US official said Friday.

Appearing before Congress, State Department official Shari Villarosa renewed calls on Pakistan to take action against extremists.

"Although the AQ (Al Qaeda) core is clearly weaker, it retains the capability to conduct regional and transnational attacks" from Pakistan, Villarosa said in written testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Villarosa, the deputy counterterrorism coordinator in charge of regional affairs, pointed to the al Qaeda linkages of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Haqqani network.

"We will do our part and we look to the government of Pakistan to take decisive steps in the days ahead," Villarosa said. "Joint action against AQ and its affiliates will make Pakistan, America and the world safer and more secure."

She also called for action against Lashkar-e-Taiba.