The US special envoy to Afghanistan has said key al-Qaeda and Taleban figures are hiding in Pakistan and Washington expects the government in Islamabad to co-operate in hunting them down.

Speaking at a news conference in Delhi, Zalmay Khalilzad said: "Afghanistan is no longer the principal base of al-Qaeda.

Khalilzad expects Pakistan to hunt down al-Qaeda

I think there are key al-Qaeda and Taleban figures near the border and across the border into Pakistan.

"We know there are several top Taleban leaders in Pakistan and we would like them arrested and turned over to the Afghani authorities."

According to official Pakistani figures, well over 400 suspected al-Qaeda members have been arrested in the country in the past 13 months.

Coalition concerns?

Religious parties, campaigning on an anti-American platform, made significant gains in provincial and national elections in Pakistan earlier this month.

They won legislative elections in Pakistan's North West Frontier province, had an edge over other parties in Baluchistan and may take part in a coalition government at the national level.

Mr Khalilzad would not comment on whether the election results in Pakistan would make it difficult for American forces to hunt down al-Qaeda and Taleban elements.

Since the election, however, the groups have toned down their criticism of Pakistan's co-operation in the US-led war on terror.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal met Mr Khalilzad and expressed concern that al-Qaeda and the Taleban, both sworn enemies of India, were regrouping.