Acknowledging Pakistan's important role in the fight against terrorism, the United States on Monday underscored that Pakistan is a sovereign country, responsible for law and order, within its borders.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, when asked to comment on a New York Times story regarding an 'aborted raid' on terrorists in 2005 on the Pakistan side of the border, said that the issue was out of his lane. But he stressed the point at the daily briefing that the key ally "is a sovereign country and has a sovereign government".
"I'm not going to get into operational details of our working relationship with Pakistan Government in fighting terrorism, but let's also remember (that) Pakistan is a sovereign country. And, they have a sovereign government, that's responsible for law and order within their borders," he said.
The spokesman was responding to Saturday's New York Times story that said that the mission was called off at the last minute after the Bush administration officials concluded it was too risky and that it might affect relations with Pakistan.
The United States believes that "Pakistan is a good ally, a good friend in fighting terror," McCormack said, and added that violent extremism was an issue that affects the Pakistani people as well as the United States.