WASHINGTON: The United States has said it does not believe joining the Saudi-led alliance in Yemen would adversely affect Pakistan’s ability to fight extremists at home.

At a recent briefing in Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf also said that Al Qaeda’s decision to dissolve the central organisation would not complicate the fight against terrorism.

Asked if she believed that joining Saudi Arabia in the fight in Yemen would affect Pakistan’s capabilities to deal with terrorists at home, she said: “I don’t.”

But she did not elaborate her response and said that she would prefer to keep her answer short.

Last week, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced he was going to dissolve the organisation and would have each group function as an autonomous body.

Asked if that would further complicate the situation for the United States, especially in Yemen, Ms Harf said: “For all intents and purposes, many of Al Qaeda’s affiliates are already acting very independently.”