WASHINGTON, Sept 29: US President George Bush on Friday praised Pakistan as a strong and steadfast ally in the war against terrorism and vowed to stand with President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Addressing a gathering of the American Reserve Officers Association, Mr Bush said that the capture of key Al Qaeda figures by Pakistan had helped protect American people.

He said America was providing high-tech equipment to improve security surveillance capabilities of Pakistani forces so that they could establish stronger control in areas along the country’s western border.

“Were it not for the information gained from the terrorists captured with the help of Pakistan, our intelligence community believes…, Al Qaeda and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland.

“Our close cooperation with the government of Pakistan has saved American lives — and America is grateful to have a strong and steadfast ally in the war against these terrorists,” he said.

President Bush said the United States was working with President Musharraf to bring security to Pakistan.

“President Musharraf has a clear vision for his country as a nation growing in freedom, prosperity and peace and as he stands against the terrorists and for the free future of his country, the United States of America will stand with him.”

President Musharraf’s decision to fight terrorists was made at great personal risk, he pointed out. The terrorists tried to kill him (Musharraf) as a result of this decision, because they knew that he had chosen to side with forces of peace and moderation and he stood in the way of their hateful vision, he said.

Referring to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism role, Mr Bush cited the example of capture of Abu Zobaida, a trusted associate of Osama bin Laden, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who is believed to be the mastermind of 9/11 attacks, and Ramzi bin al Shibh, a key plotter of 9/11 attacks.

The information gathered from these terrorists, he said, helped save American people as it helped in breaking up a cell of Southeast Asian terrorist operatives who had been groomed for attacks inside the United States.

They helped disrupt an Al Qaeda plot to develop anthrax for terrorist attacks, he added.

“They helped us stop a planned strike on a US Marine camp in Djibouti and to prevent a planned attack on the US consulate in Karachi, and to foil a plot to hijack passenger planes and to fly them into Heathrow Airport and London’s Canary Wharf,” the president said.

He said the US was cooperating with Pakistan in the construction of 100 border outposts and funding an air wing with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to give Pakistan better security and surveillance capabilities.

Referring to the dinner he had hosted on Wednesday for President Musharraf and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Mr Bush praised their leadership.

“We agreed on the need to support tribal leaders on both sides of the border. By helping these local leaders build schools and roads and health clinics, we will help them build a better life for their communities, and strengthen their hand against — to fight against — the extremists.”

Mr Bush said it was clear from the talks that “our three nations share the same goals. We will defeat the Taliban, we will defeat Al Qaeda, and the only way to do it is by working together.”—APP