KABUL, April 9: The top commander of US and Nato forces said on Saturday that while some Al Qaeda fighters have been searching for hide-outs in rugged areas of eastern Afghanistan, he does not think they are making a comeback inside the country.

“There is no question that Al Qaeda has had a presence in Afghanistan and continues to have a presence — generally assessed at less than 100 or so,” Gen. David Petraeus told reporters at the coalition's headquarters in the Afghan capital.

But he added: “There certainly has been some exploration for potential safe havens or sanctuaries in very mountainous areas of Nuristan and parts of Kunar provinces. Our intention, with our Afghan partners, is to maintain pressure on those who are seeking to establish safe havens.”

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that during the past six to eight months, Al Qaeda fighters have been setting up training camps, hideouts and bases along Afghanistan's northeastern border with Pakistan. The newspaper cited US, Afghan and Taliban officials and quoted an unnamed senior US military officer as saying “Al Qaeda is coming back.”

Speaking with reporters after a farewell ceremony for Nato's top civilian representative, Mark Sedwill, Petraeus said the recent deaths of seven UN workers in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan would not affect plans for Afghan security forces to start taking the lead for security in the provincial capital this summer. Petraeus also confirmed that he's in discussions that will determine his next job, but doesn't know what it will be.

“I honestly don't know,” he said. “I've obviously watched the trial balloons floated this past week _ if that's what they are.”

Reporters asked him directly if he wanted to become CIA director _ one of several positions being rumoured in Washington. Petraeus dodged the question, saying he didn't think it was appropriate to comment on jobs he might be asked to take.

He said, however, that suggestions that he is physically worn out were wrong. Petraeus then challenged reporters to join him for a run in Kabul, which is situated at about 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) above sea level.

“I am certainly not tired,” he said. “If any of you would like evidence or proof of that, I welcome you tomorrow morning with your running shoes on and we'll see how you do over a five-mile course at 6,000 feet.”

He said he has committed himself to lead the war through the current fighting season. There is fighting year-round in Afghanistan, but insurgent activity typically slows when the weather gets cold.

In his farewell speech to Nato and Afghan dignitaries, Sedwill said that when he arrived in Afghanistan more than two years ago, insurgents had the momentum.

“We couldn't keep up,” he said. “The Afghan people and people across the (Nato) alliance were weary and looking for a political shortcut to the exit.”

He said that since then, the coalition had regained the initiative but warned that the fight was not over.

“The road to peace, like all roads here, will be long and hard,” he said. “There will be obstacles along the way. We will have to fight hard and we will face hard choices. There will be missteps and setbacks.”

As the weather has warmed, there has been an increase in violence. At least 21 people have been killed in the protests that started April 1 when a mob of angry Afghans attacked a UN compound in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Three UN staff members and four Nepalese guards were killed in the attack.—AP