Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that his forces were fully capable of dealing with al Qaeda militants and dismissed the possibility of US forces taking anti-terrorism action on Pakistani soil.

Musharraf’s remarks came after a spate of statements from US officials suggesting the US military kept open the option of a strike against Taliban and al Qaeda targets on Pakistani territory.

“It is very clear that here on Pakistani territory only Pakistani troops will operate. Nobody should have any doubt on it,’’ he told reporters before departing for a visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“It is the arrangement (with the US) and we are capable to defend in our area. We don’t need any other force to help or assist us.’’

Musharraf’s comments came amid growing concerns in Washington that al Qaeda has become entrenched in a safe haven in Pakistan’s tribal areas on the Afghan border. Musharraf is an important ally in the US-led war on terrorism but administration officials and lawmakers say he should do more.

President George W Bush spoke on Saturday of being “troubled’’ by an al Qaeda rebuilding of strength in Pakistan, raising speculation about some kind of counter-terrorism operation in the lawless regions.

The Bush administration last week released unclassified excerpts of a major intelligence report that concluded the United States faces a heightened threat from al Qaeda in part because of the Pakistan safe haven.

Musharraf denied al Qaeda and Taliban militants were regrouping on Pakistani territory and launching cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. “No regrouping is taking place,’’ he said.