Pak will sternly deal with non-state actors: Zardari to Bush

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday assured his US counterpart George W Bush that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used by "non-state actors" for launching attacks on other countries.

The assurance was conveyed by Zardari when Bush telephoned him on Wednesday evening, said a brief statement issued by the presidency.

"President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated the position of the government of Pakistan that it will not allow its territory to be used by non-state actors for launching attacks on other countries", the statement said.

Zardari said "anybody found involved in such attacks from the soil of Pakistan will be dealt with sternly".

The two leaders discussed the situation in the region and bilateral relations, the statement said.

Bush's phone conversation with Zardari was the latest in a flurry of contacts between top US and American officials in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, which sparked tensions with India.

India has blamed Pakistan-based elements, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, for the attacks that killed over 180 people. India has asked Pakistan to take action against these elements.

Pakistan has said it is waiting for India to share evidence and information on the Mumbai attacks so that it can push forward its investigation into the incident.