New York: Al Qaeda could soon be on the decline even as it remains a major threat with a strong presence in the tribal areas of Pakistan, a report by American intelligence agencies said.

A new study of the global future by US intelligence agencies suggests that the group "may decay sooner" than many experts have assumed because of severe weaknesses like "unachievable strategic objectives, inability to attract broad-based support and self-destructive actions," the New York Times reported.

According to the Times, the report does not contradict intelligence assessments suggesting that al Qaeda remains a major threat with a strong presence in the tribal areas of Pakistan but says that the terrorist group has alienated Muslim supporters with indiscriminate killing and inattention to practical problems of poverty, unemployment and education.

"The appeal of terrorism is waning," Mathew J Burrows, head of long-range analysis in the office of the director of national intelligence and a lead author of "Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World," was quoted as saying by the Times.

Burrows said polls and anecdotal evidence strongly suggested disillusionment among Muslims with Al Qaeda and its methods and goals since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Even if al Qaeda and other terrorist groups gradually lose support, the remaining violent extremists may have access to increasingly lethal technology, including biological weapons, the report found.

The predicted decline of al Qaeda, the New York Times says, is one of the few bright spots in the generally gloomy report, which describes a decline in the United States world dominance as China, India and other powers assert themselves.
Source : PTI