WASHINGTON: Interference from Iran is emerging as one of the most vexing problems for allied interests in Afghanistan because the Islamic Republic continues to allow Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters to escape across its border, the director of the CIA told members of Congress on Tuesday.

Characterizing Iran’s behaviour as “worse than schizoid,” CIA Director George J. Tenet said that Tehran’s initial signs of cooperation with the United States in the war in Afghanistan “are being eclipsed by Iranian efforts to undermine US influence there.”

In testimony before a Senate committee, Tenet signalled that the United States could face a number of dangerous battles and operations in Afghanistan before the terrorist threat there is contained.

Tenet said allied forces have been frustrated by their inability to prevent the enemy from escaping, and he noted that intelligence agencies have identified additional “pockets of Al Qaeda and Taliban” fighters hiding in eastern provinces that border Pakistan.

He also said the United States remains vulnerable to attack by members of the Al Qaeda network, even though the war on terrorism has led to more than 1,300 arrests in 70 countries.

“Al Qaeda leaders still at large are working to reconstitute the organization,” Tenet said. “As spring emerges, we’ll see, maybe, more activity on their part.”

In only his second public appearance before Congress since the Sept 11 attacks, Tenet discussed a wide range of challenges, from the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons to what he said was a shrinking advantage that the United States holds in satellite technology.

But he spent the bulk of the session providing a progress report on the ‘war against terrorism’.

The US-led operation in Afghanistan “has dealt severe blows to Al Qaeda and its leadership,” he said. “The group is no longer able to run large- scale training and recruitment programmes in Afghanistan.”

But he offered no new information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders.—Dawn/The Los Angeles Times News Service.