Dec 5, 2004 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush on Saturday defended Pakistan’s cooperation in the hunt for Osama bin Laden despite the inability of U.S. and Pakistani troops to find the al-Qaida leader who, Bush once declared, was wanted dead or alive. The trail has gone cold in the more than three years since U.S. forces toppled the Taliban, bin Laden’s patrons in Afghanistan, after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Bin Laden, who masterminded the strikes, is believed to be hiding in the mountainous region along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Oval Office meeting between Bush and President Pervez Musharraf came just days after Pakistan’s army said it was pulling out of one important area along the border. Still, Bush had nothing but praise for Pakistan and Musharraf as critical to the search and the overall fight against terrorism.

“His army has been incredibly active and very brave in southern Waziristan flushing out an enemy that had thought they had found safe haven,” Bush said.

U.S. officials have praised Islamabad for its operations around Wana, the main town of the lawless and fiercely autonomous Waziristan region. Heavy resistance this year led to speculation that a high-profile fugitive – possibly bin Laden’s deputy Ayman al-Zawahri – was cornered.

“His army has suffered casualties and for that we want to thank their loved ones for the sacrifice that their family has made,” Bush said.

Musharraf came to the White House with a committed belief that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential to combating terrorism. At Bush’s side, Musharraf said the dispute was “the most important issue … in the interest of peace in the whole world.”

Musharraf succeeded in securing a strong commitment from Bush that the U.S. would take a more active role in the Mideast.

Afterward, Musharraf told reporters that Bush had agreed that settling the Middle East conflict “is the core issue, the core at fighting terrorism.” A senior Bush administration official, however, said Bush did not go that far.

Grateful for Pakistan’s hard line against Islamic extremists and for the capture of al-Qaida suspects, the U.S. nonetheless has a delicate relationship with Pakistan and is aware of the need to avoid roiling Pakistan’s internal politics. Musharraf’s support of the U.S. threatens to endanger him at home.

Last month, Pakistan’s army announced it was withdrawing hundreds of troops from South Waziristan.

The United States does not consider the withdrawal a downgrade in the hunt for bin Laden and others, said two senior administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In briefing Bush on Pakistan’s military operations in the border areas, Musharraf said the focus merely has moved to the North Waziristan region, the officials said.