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Pakistan's president Gen Pervez Musharraf at a meeting with the US ambassador to Pakistan on Thursday
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Pakistan says it will give the international community its "full support" in efforts to combat terrorism but signalled that it would require any military action to be sanctioned by the United Nations.
"The cabinet and National Security Council resolved to support the world community to combat terrorism all over the world," the spokesman said.
Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mr Abdul Sattar, said his country would comply with all UN Security Council resolutions to combat terrorism following the devastating attacks on New York and Washington.
"Consistent with Pakistan's policy of support for the decisions of the (U.N.) Security Council, the government will discharge its responsibilities under international law," Mr Sattar told a news conference.
The statements came after a meeting of President Pervez Musharraf's cabinet and National Security Council to discuss a US request for assistance in tracking down alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The spokesman would not elaborate on what Pakistan's support for anti-terrorism measures would involve.
Officials had earlier said President Musharraf would consult political leaders and Islamic scholars tomorrow on the nature of Pakistan's cooperation.
A government source said the president would also be talking to US President George W. Bush later today.
Military sources have said the US has requested co-operation from Pakistan in helping to abolish terrorists camps, as well as intelligence assistance in hunting down wanted terrorists and unspecified "assistance in taking action against Afghanistan".
President Musharraf, wearing his uniform as general and military chief, opened today's meeting with his civilian and military heads by asking them to observe a minute's silence for the victims of Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States.
"First of all, I'll take this opportunity to request that all of you join me in a minute of silence ... (for) all the innocent people, the thousands of innocent people killed in this terrorist attack in the United States," he said in his opening statement.
He said the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington killed "thousands of innocent people from all over the world, people of all religions, and, may I also add, people of all ages, children, young men, women and old people".
Pakistan's military core commanders, the most powerful group in the military-led government which has ruled the country since President Musharraf's coup in October 1999, met yesterday to examine a response to Washington's requests.
AFP