Since the 9/11 attacks, the US-led "war on terror" has deprived al-Qaeda of its safe haven in Afghanistan, said the new "National Strategy for Homeland Security".
But, "the group has protected its top leadership, replenished operational lieutenants, and regenerated a safe haven in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas -- core capabilities that would help facilitate another attack on the homeland," the White House document said.
Frances Townsend, the senior White House official in charge of Homeland Security, however, told the media that there is nothing new in the report and Islamabad has been a valuable ally in the war against terror.
"That really echoes what was in the national intelligence estimate. That statement is not a new statement. We relied on the intelligence community's assessment in framing the threat for this strategy," he said about the evaluation when asked how al-Qaeda had been able to do all these if Pakistan is being cooperative.
"There's no taking away from them (Pakistan). They've also suffered the loss of life in confronting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the tribal region," Towsend said.
"I have said repeatedly that the peace agreement with the tribals in Pakistan failed Pakistan and it failed us. And obviously, that's one of the fundamental things that al-Qaeda took advantage of to reestablish a safe haven in the tribal areas," the official said.
"We work with -- we're continuing to work with the (Pervez) Musharraf government, with the Pakistani military and intelligence services to address that ongoing threat," Townsend said.
"We have enjoyed some of our biggest successes with our allies in Pakistan. You know, you've heard the litany of captures that we've had, whether it's Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Zubaida, all of these have been the result of cooperation with our Pakistani allies."
Pakistan has cooperated not only with the US, but also with Britain in a number of "disruptions" of al-Qaeda plots, the top White House official said.
Townsend declined to get into operational details of the kind of cooperation the United States and Pakistan are up to on issues of terrorism.
"For obvious reasons...I can't detail for you the specific discussions between the Pakistani government and the US government. We share intelligence with them, we offer them both military intelligence and law enforcement assistance. And what that looks like is a source of constant discussion and adjustment, depending on the threat and what they are confronting," the official said.
"But I can't detail for you what the specific cooperation and the discussions are," she added.