Washington: United States views Pakistan as a "strong partner" in its war against terrorism and "we are closely working with them", the White House press secretary Scott McClellan said today (Jan 21, 2004).

On reports that Pakistan has restricted some of its nuclear scientists from leaving the country pending an investigation into nuclear proliferation by them to North Korea, Libya and Iran, McClellan said that he has not received any specific updates on what he had already said in the past.

"Obviously," he said, "They (Pakistanis) are taking some actions internally that they may feel are necessary."

Asked whether it is the position of the U S (United States) that the Pakistanis are acting, at least in part, at the request of the U.S. Government, McClellan said that he would look more into it.

"I haven't received any updates beyond what we discussed recently," he said.

After the media briefing, McClellan added, "As we have previously said, we are working closely with Pakistan on a number of fronts in the global war on terrorism. Pakistan is a strong partner in the war on terror."