"There are concerns now about how much (al-Qaeda) have turned inward, literally, inside Pakistan, as well as the kind of planning, training, financing and support that (al-Qaeda's) worldwide effort demands," US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen has said.

"...That continues to be of grave concern to us. We are mindful of this: that Pakistan is a sovereign country and certainly it's really up to President (Pervez) Musharraf and certainly his advisers and his military to address that problem directly," he said on Friday.

The top Pentagon official when asked if Pakistan is open to a different approach said, "General Kayani, who is the new head of the Pakistani army, and I have not spoken with him specifically about this, but I know Admiral Fallon and he have discussed this. We're looking for additional ways or different ways to address this. That's not going to happen overnight."

"And our -- those military-to-military both contacts and relationships remain both vibrant and vital. And we know that we're going to need to continue to try to address this," he said.

When asked if he favours the proposal idea to have US military operate in the tribal regions, presumably with Pakistani cooperation, Admiral Mullen replied, "This is up to the government of Pakistan."

Meanwhile, at the State department the Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey did not comment on Musharraf's tough rejoinder to those calling for unilateral American actions in the tribal areas.