11 August 2004	Wednesday	24 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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WASHINGTON, Aug 10: The White House has said that Pakistan is combating terrorists on two fronts - at home and along the Afghan border - and the United States appreciates Islamabad's efforts in the war against terrorism.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan made these remarks at a briefing on Monday when a journalist asked for his comment on recent media reports that some terrorist camps in Pakistan were still operating.

Mr McClellan did not directly address the issue of terrorist camps but gave an overall review of Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism. With the US presidential election less than 90 days away, Mr McClellan presented Pakistan as a major success of the Bush administration's policies against terrorism.

"Pakistan is another example of the great progress and the results we are achieving in the war on terrorism," he said. The White House spokesman recalled that only three years ago Al Qaeda was allowed to move throughout Pakistan but now Pakistan was combating Al Qaeda within the country and along the Afghan-Pakistan border. "We've come a long way from three years ago," he added.

The United States, he said, was working very closely with Pakistan as it moves forward to defeat the enemies and defeat the terrorists that were in Pakistan and along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

"And we appreciate all that they're doing," said Mr McClellan, adding that "there's always more to do in the war on terrorism." Meanwhile, the US State Department has confirmed that Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern to the US government about a recent law-enforcement operation in New York state that was carried out by the FBI.

Pakistan has protested to the United States over an FBI sting operation involving a fake plot to kill Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, describing it as a bizarre mission.

"I'm not in a position to confirm to you the details of that action, and would refer you to the Department of Justice for the facts," said State Department's deputy spokesman Adam Ereli when asked if it was true that the FBI used a fake plot to kill the Pakistani envoy to trap the suspects.

"We, for our part, are sharing the concern of the Pakistani authorities with relevant authorities in the United States," said Mr Ereli. The United States, he said, values its "close relationship" with Pakistan. "They are a key ally in the global war on terror, and we're doing everything possible to ensure that cooperation continues," he added.