White House does not know who Pakistani troops are seeking: Rice

WASHINGTON: The White House could not confirm reports on Friday that Pakistani troops had clashed with gunmen protecting Al Qaeda number two Ayman Al-Zawahiri, close to the Pak-Afghan border.

“We don’t know who is there. There are reports there are high-value targets there. We just know there’s a fierce battle in an important area,” National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on ABC television. “This is a Pakistani operation,” added Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, also on ABC television. “What we are doing, since we’re active on the Afghanistan side of the border is we’re reinforcing that side of the border and that’s helpful. Pakistan has not asked for help,” he said. Referring to the network’s leadership, Myers said “these have been the folks that have articulated the goals of Al Qaeda. It would be a big blow but one more step in the many steps it is going to take”. —AFP

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