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Bush pledges to protect Pakistan Bush pledges to protect Pakistan
(about 5 hours later)
US President George Bush has said he wants to help Pakistan protect itself.US President George Bush has said he wants to help Pakistan protect itself.
He was speaking moments before his first meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.He was speaking moments before his first meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The two leaders met as anger grows in Pakistan at US forces in Afghanistan violating Pakistani sovereignty. Mr Bush did not refer directly to controversial US strikes in Pakistan that have caused bilateral tension.
President Bush made no public reference to the controversial issue of unauthorised US strikes at insurgent targets in north-west Pakistan. On Tuesday night there were unconfirmed reports that an unmanned US drone had crashed in Pakistan, although it was unclear whether it had been shot down.
Flights suspended Deep disagreement
"Your words have been very strong about Pakistan's sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help," President Bush said before the meeting. There is growing anger in Pakistan at US forces in Afghanistan violating Pakistani sovereignty.
President Bush said before the meeting: "Your words have been very strong about Pakistan's sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help."
The US is watching closely how Pakistan reacts to the Marriott attackThe US is watching closely how Pakistan reacts to the Marriott attack
Details of what was said during the discussions between the two presidents has not yet been made available.Details of what was said during the discussions between the two presidents has not yet been made available.
The US has launched several attacks on militant targets in Pakistan recently.The US has launched several attacks on militant targets in Pakistan recently.
Washington has also offered more help to Pakistan after the devastating militant attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel. Details about Tuesday's incident involving the suspected drone are still unclear.
The 600kg bomb destroyed much of the hotel and left more than 50 people dead. Most were Pakistanis. Two US state department employees were among the foreign fatalities. Pakistani intelligence sources said a drone came down in the village of Jalal Khel in South Waziristan, close to the Afghan border.
British Airways has now suspended flights to Pakistan indefinitely following the Marriott attack because of security worries. Some reports said tribesmen or Pakistani troops had shot it down but neither can be confirmed.
"The safety of our customers, crew and aircraft is of paramount importance," a statement from the airline on Tuesday said. The incident is likely to add to the US-Pakistan tension.
The Pakistani army is engaged in a fierce campaign against militants in the northern tribal Bajaur region which has forced some 300,000 people to flee their homes. The army says it killed 10 more militants there on Tuesday. The nations have been in deep disagreement since 3 September when the US conducted its first ground assault in Pakistani territory on what it said was a militant target in South Waziristan.
Fury
Pakistan and the United States have been in deep disagreement since 3 September when the US conducted its first ground assault in Pakistani territory on what it said was a militant target in the South Waziristan region.
We'll continue to work with the Pakistanis on trying to deal with the Taleban and al-Qaeda threat Robert WoodUS state department 'We are all in pain and agony'Marriott 'will rise again'We'll continue to work with the Pakistanis on trying to deal with the Taleban and al-Qaeda threat Robert WoodUS state department 'We are all in pain and agony'Marriott 'will rise again'
The Pakistan government reacted with fury at the unauthorised incursion in which they said US troops killed 20 innocent villagers.The Pakistan government reacted with fury at the unauthorised incursion in which they said US troops killed 20 innocent villagers.
On two occasions since then Pakistani troops have opened fire to thwart US forces trying to cross the border. There have also been a succession of US drone missile attacks along Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. On two occasions since then Pakistani troops have opened fire to thwart US forces trying to cross the border.
US military officials have complained that militants operate from safe havens in Pakistan from where they attack international and Afghan troops in Afghanistan.US military officials have complained that militants operate from safe havens in Pakistan from where they attack international and Afghan troops in Afghanistan.
They say that if they brief Pakistan about where they want to attack militants, elements in Pakistan's intelligence services sympathetic to the militants tip them off to help them escape.They say that if they brief Pakistan about where they want to attack militants, elements in Pakistan's intelligence services sympathetic to the militants tip them off to help them escape.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says that cross border co-operation was high on the agenda when Mr Zardari and Mr Bush meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says that cross border co-operation was high on the agenda when Mr Zardari and Mr Bush meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
In a recent interview on American television, Mr Zardari again insisted that only Pakistani forces were authorised to operate on Pakistani soil.In a recent interview on American television, Mr Zardari again insisted that only Pakistani forces were authorised to operate on Pakistani soil.
Our correspondent says Mr Zardari cannot accept any military activities which will increase the mood of anti-Americanism in his country and from his perspective make the fight against militancy more difficult.Our correspondent says Mr Zardari cannot accept any military activities which will increase the mood of anti-Americanism in his country and from his perspective make the fight against militancy more difficult.
A little known group calling itself the Fidayeen-e-Islam said it carried out the bombing at the Marriott hotel. It has called for an end to all American involvement in Pakistan if further attacks are to be avoided. 'Hotspots'
It was the biggest bomb ever used by militants in Pakistan's history. Also on the agenda was the bombing of the Islamabad Marriott hotel that left more than 50 people dead.
More aggressive A little known group calling itself the Fidayeen-e-Islam said it carried out the bombing. It has called for an end to all American involvement in Pakistan if further attacks are to be avoided.
The US state department said the bomb showed the need for the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan "to work and redouble our efforts to counter extremism".The US state department said the bomb showed the need for the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan "to work and redouble our efforts to counter extremism".
Mr Zardari insists US forces cannot enter Pakistan
"We'll continue to work with the Pakistanis on trying to deal with the Taleban and al-Qaeda threat, not only in the tribal areas, but over in Afghanistan," spokesman Robert Wood said.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US is watching closely to see how Islamabad deals with the aftermath of the Marriott attack.The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US is watching closely to see how Islamabad deals with the aftermath of the Marriott attack.
Pakistan's government has promised raids in some "hotspots" near the Afghan border.Pakistan's government has promised raids in some "hotspots" near the Afghan border.
But the US would like to see Pakistan take a more aggressive military approach on the ground, and rethink its unpopular peace deals with the militants.But the US would like to see Pakistan take a more aggressive military approach on the ground, and rethink its unpopular peace deals with the militants.