US poised to hit Taliban targets

The officials say the influx shows a strengthening of Al-Qaeda forces in the tribal areas, a key base of support for the Taliban.

The Paper reported that jihadist websites were encouraging foreign fighters to go to Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was considered a “winning fight”, compared with the insurgency in Iraq.

Three US congressmen back from a trip to the region have revealed they were briefed about US plans to stage raids against targets in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas, where most of the militancy feeding the insurgency in Afghanistan is believed to be based.