"We keep all options open if there's actionable intelligence, which says that we keep the options open. It does not preclude working with the local government," the White House Spokesman Tony Snow in a briefing.

Yesterday, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama had said he would be ready to order military strikes against high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan if there are actionable intelligence, even without Islamabad's permission.

Snow said White House's priority is to extend support to the Musharraf regime in fighting down militant groups.

"What they are doing is that they're putting lives on the line and resources into the fight. So they're fighting it. We have made it clear that we will support them as they request," he said.

"We work with them... President Musharraf, is somebody who clearly has chips in the game here. This is a guy who has been himself the object of multiple assassination attempts on the part of al-Qaeda. He understands the kind of threat it poses, and he is now moving in there in force," he added.

In his address to the Wilson Center Senator Obama ripped the Bush administration's policies in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan outlining the changes he will be making if he were to be elected President.