Al Qaeda not on rise in Afghanistan: Petraeus

The top commander of US and Nato forces said Saturday that while some al Qaeda fighters have been searching for hide-outs in rugged areas of eastern Afghanistan, he does not think they are making a comeback inside the country. "There is no question that al Qaeda has had a presence in Afghanistan and continues to have a presence generally assessed at less than 100 or so," General David Petraeus told reporters at the coalition's headquarters in the Afghan capital.
But he added: "There certainly has been some exploration for potential safe havens or sanctuaries in very mountainous areas of Nuristan and parts of Kunar provinces. Our intention, with our Afghan partners, is to maintain pressure on those who are seeking to establish safe havens."
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that during the past six to eight months, al Qaeda fighters have been setting up training camps, hideouts and bases along Afghanistan's north-eastern border with Pakistan. The newspaper cited US, Afghan and Taliban officials and quoted an unnamed senior US military officer as saying "al Qaeda is coming back."
Speaking with reporters after a farewell ceremony for Nato's top civilian representative, Mark Sedwill, Petraeus said the recent deaths of seven UN workers in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan would not affect plans for Afghan security forces to start taking the lead for security in the provincial capital this summer. Petraeus also confirmed that he's in discussions that will determine his next job, but doesn't know what it will be. "I honestly don't know," he said. "I've obviously watched the trial balloons floated this past week if that's what they are."
Reporters asked him directly if he wanted to become CIA director one of several positions being rumoured in Washington. Petraeus dodged the question, saying he didn't think it was appropriate to comment on jobs he might be asked to take. He said, however, that suggestions that he is physically worn out were wrong. Petraeus then challenged reporters to join him for a run in Kabul, which is situated at about 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) above sea level. "I am certainly not tired," he said. "If any of you would like evidence or proof of that, I welcome you tomorrow morning with your running shoes on and we'll see how you do over a five-mile course at 6,000 feet."