Senator defends Pakistan efforts against al-Qaida

Following a meeting with Pakistan's leader, the US Senate's second-highest ranking Democrat on Wednesday defended the country's efforts to battle al-Qaida along its mountainous border with Afghanistan. Speaking with reporters in a conference call from Iraq, Sen. Dick Durbin said Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf voiced concern over news reports that portray him as not doing enough to eradicate al-Qaida. "It would be a mistake to conclude that they are not making the effort. I believe they have," Durbin said, citing the deaths of 600 Pakistani soldiers. "I just believe they can be more effective in the way they're doing it."