Refusing to comment on an emissary being sent to Pakistan to confront concerns about the Inter Services Intelligence working with militants, the Bush administration on Thursday said the United States was working with Islamabad in its fight against terror.
Both the White House and the State Department spokespersons refused to comment on the issue, which was first reported by The New York Times.
"I have no comment on that story," White House press secretary Dana Perino said, adding that she was not in a position to comment on how Pakistan was faring on the war on terror.
"You can check around to other agencies and see if they would be. I think that, when it comes to Prime Minister Gilani and President Bush, they are of one mind, that the Al Qaida and the terrorists pose a threat not just to the United States but to Pakistanis, as well. And they saw that first hand when Prime Minister Bhutto was assassinated," Perino said.
"We are going to continue to work with them. We are trying to work with their military. We have had good relationships with Pakistan over the years. But this is a tense time for everybody, as we work to do more to combat terrorism," she added.
A State Department spokesperson also refused to comment on the reports.
"No comment on those reports. All I can tell you is that we are working very well, as is evidenced by the president's meeting with the Pakistani prime minister, on issues related to terrorism, fighting terrorism in -- especially in those tribal areas," US State Department spokesperson said.
"The threat from terrorism that emanates from those areas is as much a threat to the Pakistani people as it is to our troops, the Afghans and to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's forces and international forces in Afghanistan," McCormack added.
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