ISLAMABAD: The military asked the United States on Sunday to share information about the alleged presence of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri in the tribal areas.

“We expect the US intelligence establishment to share available information and actionable intelligence regarding Al Zawahiri and other high value targets with us, enabling Pakistan Army to carry out targeted operations,” a spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The ISPR was reacting to a statement of US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta alleging presence of Al Qaeda leadership in the tribal areas and calling upon Islamabad to act against them.

The ISPR spokesman said the Pakistan Army was already carrying out intense operations against Al Qaeda and its affiliates, terming them a threat to the country’s security.

The operations included “pursuit and targeting of terrorist leadership and high value targets”, the spokesman said. Mr Panetta said on Saturday before arriving in Afghanistan that he believed Ayman Al Zawahiri was living in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

“Zawahiri is one of those we would like to see the Pakistanis target along with our help,” Mr Panetta said, adding that “we’ve got to continue to push them (Pakistan)”.—Agencies