Halt in drone strikes helping militants

WASHINGTON: Nearly two-month pause in US drone strikes in tribal areas has encouraged Al Qaeda and several Pakistani militant factions to regroup, increase attacks against Pakistani security forces and threaten intensified strikes against allied forces in Afghanistan, 'The New York Times' reported.

According to the report, the militants are taking advantage of tensions raised by US airstrike in November that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers in two border check-posts.

The CIA has not conducted a drone strike since mid-November in a hope to revive relations with Pakistan, NYT report said.

The NYT reported that diplomats and intelligence analysts say the lull in US drone strikes offering greater freedom of movement to an insurgency that had been splintered.