CIA presented Musharraf with evidence on Al Qaeda

In what is being described as a 'highly unusual move', the Bush administration had sent the CIA deputy director to personally present evidence of Al Qaeda regrouping in Pakistan's northern areas to President Pervez Musharraf.

Stephen Kappes is said to have flown in specially for the meeting between US Vice President Dick Cheney and the Pakistani leader on Monday and presented the latter with 'evidence' that included satellite pictures that the agency has put together of the goings-on in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The top CIA official is said to have presented Musharraf 'compelling' evidence of Al Qaeda's resurgence in Pakistan, US officials were quoted as saying by ABC News.

The CIA evidence is said to have included electronic intercepts of Al Qaeda leaders operating inside Pakistan.

"We are now seeing the recreation of Al Qaeda central," Richard Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism chief has said.

According to US officials, Musharraf has been in a state of denial about the resurgence and comeback of the Al Qaeda in Pakistan and has 'ignored' evidence presented by NATO commanders in Afghanistan.

Although Musharraf pledged in a September 2006 meeting with President George W Bush to get tough with the Al Qaeda and the Taliban operating in Northern Waziristan, the attacks on the NATO and American troops have more than tripled since then.