New York: President Asif Ali Zardari has sought to downplay the remarks of President-elect Barack Obama that if the US has actionable intelligence it has the right to attack high value terrorist targets in Pakistan with or without Islamabad's permission.

"I think it's a misquote," Zardari told Larry King Live on CNN last night. "I think the actual quote is that if we did not take action then the President-elect has said that he would take action. But that (situation) would never arise. The minute we get any actionable intelligence... We shall act ourselves," he said.

Asked about just released study by the US which warns that terrorists could strike soon a major city with weapons of mass destruction and singles out Pakistan for grave concern because of its history of instability and arsenal of nuclear weapons, Zardari said that is ever more reason that for Islamabad to get more help, more attention and more looking after.

"So we appeal to the world and the world at large, and our neighbours, to sit down and find solutions to all problems facing the region," he added. Asked whether he agreed with assessment in the report that Pakistan could be an unwitting source of terrorist attack on the US, he said it is a situation the present government has inherited war in Afghanistan and on the country's northern regions.

"That is an issue that needs more attention and I am hoping that the new (US) administration will work with us to looking into the regional solution."

Source : PTI