US troops can take action in Pakistan: Bush

US President George W Bush said American forces can operate within Pak territory if any actionable intelligence about Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden is received.

US President George W Bush has said American forces could operate within Pakistani territory if any actionable intelligence about the presence of Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden is received.

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Talking to CNN, the US president on Sunday said he still stood by his earlier stance that the US would undertake direct action on Pakistani soil against Osama, if his presence were proved.

Appreciating President Pervez Musharraf for resigning as chief of army staff, Bush said he had played an important role for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Pakistan, under his leadership, arrested many Al-Qaeda operatives, for which "(the US) is grateful to Islamabad", the Daily Times quoted the American president as saying in his interview.