Downplaying Pakistan's claim that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim [Images] was not in its territory, the United States said on Tuesday that Dawood was "very much" in its sights and that it would like to see individuals like him apprehended.

Dawood is not here, says Pakistan

"Individuals like him... we would like to see them apprehended," American Ambassador David Mulford told reporters in New Delhi when asked about Dawood, who is designated as a terrorist by the US, and said to be in Pakistan.

"He is very much in our sights," Mulford said without elaborating. India had, on Monday, sought the deportation of Dawood and 30 other wanted people during the home secretary-level talks but Pakistan had said that the underworld don was not in the country, and lived "somewhere else".

India, Pakistan exchange lists of wanted persons

Asked about reports of terror camps continuing to operate in Pakistan, Mulford said, "the US wants these camps to be disbanded".

President George W Bush [Images] had taken up the issue with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf [Images], he said, adding that the US regarded Pakistan as a "valuable ally" in the war on terror and that Islamabad was itself taking action on this problem in that country. 

Deport criminals: India tells Pakistan