WASHINGTON, Jan. 20: Two days before Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s scheduled arrival in Washington for a meeting with President George W. Bush, the White House expressed its confidence in the administrative setup in Pakistan, praising the country and President Pervez Musharraf as “key allies” in the war against terrorism.

But when asked if President Musharraf was doing enough to be a key ally, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: “Well, all of us can do more in the war on terrorism.”

In the same statement, the White House spokesman again refused to comment on the controversial air raid on a village in Bajaur earlier this month, saying that he did not intend to “get into discussing operational matters or alleged operational matters in the war on terrorism from this podium.”

Instead of discussing the air raid, Mr McClellan offered general comments on Pakistan’s role as “a valued ally” in the global war on terrorism. “We work very closely with Pakistan to pursue Al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists and bring them to justice, and we will continue to do so,” he added.

This led to a reporter suggesting that while the Pakistani government may be a critical ally in the war on terror the Pakistani people may not share the same sentiments. “Does President Bush believe that without the Pakistani people’s support, Osama bin Laden can be found,” he asked.

“The Pakistani people are seeing the compassion and generosity of the American people in our response and support as they recover from the earthquake that hit. Our military, and many aid workers, have been in Pakistan helping people in need, people who were affected by those earthquakes and people that lost everything that they had,” said Mr McClellan.