The United States does not regard al-Qaeda as a threat, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf has said.
She made the comment when she was asked about al-Qaeda branch in the Indian Subcontinent.
The US official was addressing a regular press briefing in Washington DC on Thursday.
Harf said: “We don’t regard this announcement as an indication of any new capabilities by al-Qaeda.”
“The core of al-Qaida’s leadership except for Zawahiri, of the senior leadership in al-Qaeda in Pakistan, has been taken off the battlefield.”
She said core al-Qaeda, it’s al-Qaeda senior leadership in the tribal areas primarily in Pakistan, also some in Afghanistan and that core leadership has been decimated.
She added: “And as they are replaced with new fighters, they are significantly less capable, are significantly less trained, they have much less capability.”
She said we have remained committed to dismantling al-Qaeda anywhere that it poses a threat to the United States.
She, however, said, the US hasn’t been able to verify the recent video yet.
“Obviously, we’re looking to see if there’s more information we can get about this here,” Harf said.
The US official also expressed concern about launching its new branch in other places.
Harf said: “We’ve constantly at the same time said we’re concerned if they try to undertake operations in other places, if they – as they – as we know have affiliated groups in other places. So we’re concerned about it.”
Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has announced the formation of a wing of the militant group in India and its neighbourhood.
In the latest video posted online, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri promised to spread Islamic rule and "raise the flag of jihad" across the "Indian subcontinent".
