Washington, Nov 17: Growing violence in Pakistan is being closely watched by the US, which is concerned that the instability in the region could further strengthen al-Qaida strongholds along the country’s border with Afghanistan, a senior Defence Department official has said.

Pakistani security forces, have faced heavy opposition from insurgents in these tribal areas, ''said Michael Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.

"The level of violence is ramping up. It isn't Iraq, but it’s getting worse,'' he added.

Yet there are no plans to involve US forces in military operations inside Pakistan, The News quoted Vickers, as saying.

President Pervez Musharraf's Government is "a very important ally in the war on terror,'' Vickers said.

He said that the fighting has not affected US operations in Afghanistan.

Vickers said that the Bush Administration has been trying to capture or kill Osama bin Laden: "If we knew, I think we'd kill or capture him. We're trying very hard to do that," Vickers said. (ANI)