New York, Oct 27: Americans and their Afghan allies are coming under increasing attacks from Taliban and al Qaeda who are now better organized and well armed, a media report said today. Despite the presence of 8,500 American troops in the country, the influence of al Qaeda and Taliban is spreading, Time magazine reports in its latest issue. A new UN security report says that one-third of the country is too dangerous for aid distribution. Lately, says time, the problem has been an absence of intelligence and precious few leads about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden or his comrades. That may be because the Taliban, which controlled Afghanistan and gave comfort to al-Qaeda before the US invaded, is regrouping.


"The tribal chiefs are hedging their bets," says an adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. "They know that when the American soldiers leave their village, the Taliban will steal back to take revenge." Bureau Report