US downplays reports on tough message to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Hours after the meeting between US Vice President Dick Cheney and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the White House sought to downplay reports that Washington has sent a tough message that aid would cut to Islamabad if Al Qaeda militants are not hunted down.

"We have not been saying it's a tough message. What we're saying is that the Vice President is meeting with President Musharraf because we do understand the importance of making even greater progress against Al Qaeda, against the Taliban," spokesman Tony Snow said on Monday.

Asked about the Vice President's message to Musharraf, he said, "I'm not going to speculate about that."

"It is important not only for the safety and security of people within Pakistan but, obviously, within Afghanistan as well. And it's an important element in the larger war on terror," Snow maintained.

He said Musharraf absolutely understands the Al Qaida problem and he has been, on multiple occasions, a target of Al Qaida assassination attempts.

"He understands that there has been an Al Qaida presence within his country. So they continue to work on being more effective at going after the bad guys," Snow said.

"The Vice President on his trip to Pakistan is doing what we typically do, which is to talk with the Pakistanis about the best way of working forward in the war on terror and going after Al Qaida," he said.