Bush mum on al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan

Washington, Aug 7: Apparently to steer clear of any controversy, President George Bush has refused to commit US unilateral strike without President Pervez Musharraf's permission even if it had information about al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden's presence in Pakistan.

Addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at his Camp David retreat near here yesterday, Mr Bush said, ''We are in constant communication with the Pakistan government. It is in their (Pakistan's) interest that foreign fighters be brought to justice, after all these are the same ones that are plotting to kill President Musharraf. We share a concern.'' Some US officials had said last month that the United States would be willing to launch a military strike against al-Qaeda inside Pakistan if it had the information and opportunity to do so. The remarks evoked strong protest in Islamabad.

President Bush and President Karzai reaffirmed their commitment to defeating remaining Taliban insurgents and bringing al-Qaeda terrorists to justice.

The United States has contributed more than 23 billion dollars to rebuilding Afghanistan so far. Mr Bush said the US was working alongside 36 other countries taking part in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force to stabilise Afghanistan.

President Karzai thanked the international community for doing its part to save the lives of 85,000 Afghan children through actions such as US training for 7,000 Afghan health care workers since 2001.

Mr Bush and Mr Karzai also discussed the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border which has created tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

President Karzai and General Musharraf are scheduled to meet in Kabul later this week to draw up an effective strategy to deal with Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.

President Bush pledged his support to Karzai and Musharraf as they seek reconciliation and forging partnership to fight extremism.

UNI