August 12, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-us-Saani 2, 1423

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 11: Three separate clashes this week with the fighters of Al Qaeda — that has taken on a new name, Fateh Islam — point to the organization’s resurgence in Afghanistan, the Christian Science Monitor said.

The paper quoted military intelligence sources in the eastern province of Kunar as saying that Al Qaeda has established two main bases inside Pakistan — hundreds of kilometres north of where US and Pakistani troops are now hunting — and is preparing for a massive strike against the Afghan government.

To blunt US air superiority, Al Qaeda forces are attempting to acquire surface-to-air missiles in China, the paper said.

A spokesman for the American military operations in Afghanistan said that the US forces were prepared for any possible Al Qaeda military offensive in the next few weeks or months. The US is currently making sure it has enough troop strength in areas where Al Qaeda is deemed to be most active, says Lt. Col. Roger King, spokesman for the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom at Bagram Air Base outside of Kabul.