WASHINGTON, July 2: During a speech on Afghanistan and Iraq on Tuesday night, President George W. Bush told the Americans it was important for them to know that Pakistan was playing a key role in fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

In his speech, made exactly a week after his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, Mr Bush also praised the Pakistani government as one of those that understood the threat of terrorism and were fighting to root it out.

“Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, it is important for our fellow citizens to know that Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 terrorists, including hundreds of members of Al Qaeda and the Taliban,” Mr Bush said, addressing a reenlistment ceremony of military service members at the White House.

Many terrorists, Mr Bush said, sought sanctuary along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and some were still hiding there.

“These Al Qaeda and Taliban holdouts have attacked allied bases with unguided rockets, conducted ambushes, and fired upon border posts. In close cooperation with the Afghan and Pakistani governments, America is engaged in operations to find and destroy these terrorists.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are among many governments that understand the threat of terror and are determined to root it out,” said Mr Bush.