US military warns of Al Qaeda return to Afghanistan

Washington, Dec 2 : Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan would return if the Taliban regains control of the country, the top US military officer warned Wednesday, saying the consequences of US and NATO mission failing would be "grave".

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, said the Taliban has established shadow governments in many of Afghanistan's provinces, adding that denying the possible return of Al Qaeda "ignores both the recent past and the evidence we see."

"The cost of failure is then grave," Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Mullen joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates in testimony to explain President Barack Obama's newly announced strategy for Afghanistan and defend the plan.

Obama announced Tuesday evening that he was sending 30,000 moretroops to Afghanistan and would initiate withdrawals as early as July 2011. The three officials are likely to face tough questions from lawmakers as the testimony got underway.

Obama's plan has left the Democrats divided, with many opposing the deployment of the additional troops that will expand the US force to 98,000 by this summer. Republicans, while applauding the buildup, have criticized the establishment of a timeframe for withdrawals, saying it sends the wrong signal to the Taliban.