The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Islamabad

The front-runner in Pakistan's presidential election says global terrorism is the biggest challenge facing the country and that it will continue to stand by the United States.

The comments from Asif Ali Zardari come after U.S. troops carried out their first known cross border ground attack on a suspected militant target. Pakistan's government, which is dominated by Zardari's party, issued strong protests.

However, Zardari said in a newspaper article published Thursday that Pakistan stood with the U.S. and other countries who have been attacked by terrorists. He said an apparent assassination attempt on the prime minister hours after the U.S. raid underlined that global terrorism was Pakistan's primary challenge.