NY bombing plot: Pak assures US full cooperation

Pakistan has assured full cooperation to the United States over a Pakistani-American arrested in connection with the failed car bombing attempt in New York City's Times Square, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Tuesday.

"We have robust counter-terrorism cooperation with the US and if there is a need in this case, Pakistan will fully cooperate with the US because terrorism is a global phenomenon," Basit said.

US officials were quoted as saying that Pakistan-born Faisal Shahzad was arrested in connection with the failed bombing while trying to flee the country to Dubai.

Basit said the matter was at a 'preliminary stage' and Pakistan would wait for more information to come in. His comments came as reports said the US Ambassador Anne Patterson met the foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and held discussions on the issue.

She sought Pakistan's help in the investigation into the incident, the channels reported. "We have a mechanism for ongoing cooperation with the US and if the US needs any help or cooperation in this particular case, we will provide it," Basit said.

Pakistan has been taking all possible action against terrorism, the spokesman told a TV news channel. A sports utility vehicle was left in New York's Times Square on Saturday with a bomb made from fertiliser, fireworks, petrol and propane gas tanks. The bomb was discovered and dismantled before it could explode.