Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/vice-president-cheney-urges-pakistan-to-fight-al-qaida Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Amid concerns that al-Qaida is regrouping in the lawless border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Bush administration has threatened to cut aid to Pakistan unless it becomes more aggressive in tracking down terrorists. Experts assess the situation. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. GWEN IFILL: Last fall, President Bush invited two key allies, the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan, to the White House. The goal: to seek cooperation against common enemies, the resurgent Taliban and the terrorist group al-Qaida.The two mutually suspicious presidents, Pervez Musharraf and Hamid Karzai, have been at odds over how to assert control over the lawless Waziristan region along their shared border. Within weeks, the president was offering this optimistic assessment.GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: Absolutely we're winning; al-Qaida is on the run. GWEN IFILL: But that optimism has since faded, as U.S. intelligence estimates of al-Qaida's strength have changed. John Negroponte, then the director of national intelligence, told Congress last month a resilient al-Qaida remains the greatest threat to the United States. JOHN NEGROPONTE, Former National Intelligence Director: They are cultivating stronger operational connections and relationships that radiate outward from their leaders' secure hideout in Pakistan to affiliates throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. GWEN IFILL: 2006 proved to be the deadliest year yet in Afghanistan, where U.S. and coalition troops have been fighting since 2001. Military and intelligence officials believe Taliban and al-Qaida fighters routinely disappear into the mountains and caves along the 1,500-mile border with Pakistan. GEORGE W. BUSH: Taliban and al-Qaida fighters do hide in remote regions of Pakistan. This is wild country. This is wilder than the Wild West, and these folks hide, and recruit, and launch attacks. GWEN IFILL: This footage, provided by a private counterintelligence firm, purportedly shows al-Qaida militants striking U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan during a 45-minute firefight. It surfaced 10 days ago and also contained a message from al-Qaida's number-two, Ayman al-Zawahiri. In the tape, Zawahiri threatens future attacks and says al-Qaida still has a safe haven in Afghanistan.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed the administration's concerns about a resurgent al-Qaida yesterday on ABC's "This Week."CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. Secretary of State: I don't doubt that al-Qaida has tried to regenerate some of its leadership. I don't doubt that.I don't think that anybody would claim that this is the same organization or the same kind of organization that operated out of Afghanistan, but we have to be vigilant. GWEN IFILL: A series of administration officials, including White House counterterrorism adviser Frances Townsend and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, have visited the region recently for private meetings.ROBERT GATES, Secretary of Defense: We talked about the importance of seizing the offensive this spring to deal the Taliban and al-Qaida a strategic setback. GWEN IFILL: And today, Vice President Cheney arrived in Pakistan for an unannounced, four-hour visit. Officials said he arrived with a strong message for Musharraf: Stem cross-border attacks in Afghanistan or face a possible decrease in U.S. aid.The vice president also planned to meet today in Kabul with President Karzai, but that meeting was cancelled due to the weather.