While its own National Intelligence Estimate prepared by various national intelligence agencies have said that the Al Qaeda [Images] and the Taliban are back with a vengeance in parts of Pakistan and plotting even more spectacular attacks than the one on 9/11, the Bush administration have moved quickly to give a vote of confidence to President Pervez Musharraf [Images].

Musharraf has been thrashed by members of the US Congress, leading analysts, and leading newspapers who have questioned his fidelity to the global war on terror.

The administration's pointman for South Asia Richard Boucher, appearing in the State Department's briefing room almost immediately after the NIE was released revealing the return of Al Qaeda and Taliban, regrouped and apparently more potent that ever, declared, "The first thing I would say is the Pakistani government is dealing decisively with the problems that have been brewing for some time."

He acknowledged that "the Al Qaeda has been able to exploit an opportunity last year after the Waziristan agreement," and argued that the terrorist network "by violating the terms of that agreement, they were able to operate, meet, plan, recruit, obtain financing in more comfort in the tribal areas than previously."

Boucher, assistant secretary of state for south and central asian affairs, said the recent situation at the Red Mosque in Islamabad was a tangible manifestation of this regrouping where "you've seen all the guns and the weapons that were recovered after the army went in. Again, it was the product of decades, but it became acute over the last eight months or so."

He asserted that the Pakistani government's action against the militants in the Red Mosque was a "decisive move against extremism," and reiterated that "it shows that the government of Pakistan is prepared to move, to act against dangerous militancy that has come to infect various areas in parts of Pakistani society."

"This action on the Red Mosque comes amidst more government pressure on the extremists in the tribal areas," he said.

Boucher said the suicide bombings over the weekend that followed in the aftermath of the storming of the Red Mosque was retaliation "not only for the mosque and the action the government took there, but also for this government pressure of the foreign elements in the tribal areas generally."

Consequently, he made a strong case arguing -- apparently against the rising cacophony  to ditch Musharraf -- that it was imperative to "support Pakistani efforts and we need to help them upgrade their military, particularly the Frontier Corps, which is the corps that forms the bulk of the forces -- the 85,000 or so military forces that they have in the tribal and border region of Pakistan. And so we are developing programs and seeking funding to try and help upgrade their capabilities." 

Boucher also said that another way to alleviate rising extremism in Pakistan "is to support the democratic transition that is underway in Pakistan this year," and contrary to some reports that Musharraf may use the current situation in the country to impose martial law and postpone elections, declared, "the process is moving forward."

'There's a lot of politics in the air right now in Pakistan, but we're very much supportive of the movement towards a free and open election where the Pakistani people will be given a choice and be able to make the choice of their leadership in the future," Boucher added.

Boucher predicted that this would help "stabilise a moderate center and provide a basis for the whole society to fight extremism."

"As you look at these different elements, what's clear is that the vast majority of the Pakistani people are looking for a more modern and more moderate to more prosperous course, based on openness, based on democracy, to be an Islamic nation, but a modern, moderate Islamic nation and that's a course that we very much support," he said.

"They have cast their lot in that direction and there's no going back. It's a tough choice and it could be a difficult period. But we are going to be with them all the way," Boucher added.