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COMBATING TERRORISM: The United States Lacks Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Date: April 2008
Institution: Government Accountability Office
Bibliographic Entry: Government Accountability Office. “COMBATING TERRORISM: The United States Lacks Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.” Report to Congressional Committees, April 2008. Washington, D.C. Accessed at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08622.pdf
Electronic Link: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08622.pdf
Key Words: Pakistan, al Qaeda, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, terrorism has been a high national security priority. The 9/11 Commission concluded that Pakistan will be critical in addressing this issue. Because of the challenges the US faces in Pakistan, particularly the retrenchment of al Qaeda, the GAO was asked to assess two issues. First, US progress in meeting its national security goals in Pakistan’s FATA region and second the status of US efforts to develop a comprehensive plan. This report is the first in a series.
The GAO concluded that the US has not met its goals and that there is no comprehensive, whole-of-government plan for meeting US national security goals in the FATA.
The principal result is that the embassy in Pakistan has no overarching guidance for accomplishing the objective of combating terrorism and limiting access to safe havens.
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: September 26, 2007