This counter tracks the total number of alternate-route query packets sent to all neighbors in this autonomous system, which EIGRP issues when a route loses its successor and needs to ask neighbors for alternate paths. A rising query count reflects the router actively searching for backup paths after losing a preferred route, so frequent or sustained query activity, rather than an occasional isolated spike, suggests underlying route instability that's forcing repeated active-state searches, which can itself cause temporary reachability gaps. An admin noticing this counter climbing in step with cEigrpActive going true for multiple topology entries would recognize the router is in the middle of active route recomputation, and repeated cycles of this over time would point to a chronically unstable link somewhere in the topology.