Friday, September 22 2006 11:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: As Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf prepared to meet his American host Friday, the White House reiterated that Osama bin Laden would be brought to justice when there is actionable information.

At her press gaggle with White House correspondents on their way to Florida Thursday, spokesperson Dana Perino did not give a plain yes or no answer to a question if President George W. Bush would find it necessary to seek General Musharraf's permission to launch military action against Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan.

But after a long preamble about Pakistan being an important partner in the war on terror, she declared, "What I can tell you is that without getting into any operational details when there is actionable information, that Osama bin Laden will be brought to justice."

Reacting to a Bush comment to CNN Wednesday that if actionable information was available, he would 'absolutely' order US forces to capture or kill Osama, even if he was in Pakistani territory, Musharraf had told a press conference in New York, "We would not like to allow that at all."

"As we've said before, Pakistan is an important partner in the war on terror and a friend to the United States. We've had excellent cooperation in many areas, including counter-terrorism," Perino said at her briefing.

"And the president has repeatedly said how much he appreciates Musharraf's commitment to pursuing Al Qaeda and continuing to work with US in cooperation in the search for Osama bin Laden," she said.

Pakistan and the United States remain close allies, working not only on the war on terror together, but on many other areas, Perino said before reiterating Bush's resolve to hunt bin Laden.

Asked why a trilateral meeting had been planned with Musharraf and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Sep 27 after Bush's separate meetings with Musharraf on Friday and Karzai next Tuesday, she said, "Obviously, the war on terror is something that they have to talk about."

At his separate daily briefing, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the trilateral format is an acknowledgement of the fact that what happens on one side of the border affects what happens on the other side of the border.

"But, this isn't about pointing fingers at one another," he said in an obvious reference to Musharraf and Karzai blaming each other about cross-border terrorism.

"What this is about is finding ways that we can all work together to be able to achieve our common objectives, which is a free, secure and independent Afghanistan and a secure Pakistan border area as well," Casey said.

"Again, what we want to see the Government of Pakistan do, the Government of Afghanistan do and what we want to be able to help them do is take actions to ensure that there isn't cross-border traffic that no part of Pakistan or a part of Afghanistan are being used for raids across the way," he said.

India too is expected to figure in Musharraf's talks with Bush. He is likely to tell him about recent progress in Pakistan-India peace process for establishment of durable peace in South Asia through resolution of outstanding disputes 'including Kashmir.'

Ahead of Friday's meeting with Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Commerce Secretary Carlos Guiterrez separately met Musharraf in Washington.

India also figured in Musharraf's talks earlier in the day with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in New York.

Informing her about his Havana meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Musharraf is reported to have expressed satisfaction over the results and said they made progress towards issues confronting the two countries.

Musharraf also hoped the two sides will be able to resolve their differences, provided the two leaders show courage and flexibility.

Meanwhile, the World Sindhi Institute announced it will hold peaceful demonstration in front of the White House Friday to protest against the atrocities committed by Musharraf's military regime in Pakistan.