Pakistan has criticized remarks by a U.S. State Department counter-terrorism official who said Pakistan is not doing enough to remove Taleban and al-Qaida members from its soil.

Henry Crumpton, in Kabul Saturday after talks in Pakistan, praised Pakistan for arresting hundreds of al-Qaida members but added that miliant leaders had found safe haven in Pakistan's lawless semi-autonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan's military and government spokesman, Major-General Shaukat Sultan, called Crumpton's statement irresponsible, saying he did not make the same criticisms during his talks with Pakistani officials.

Pakistan, a key U.S. ally in the war against terrorism, has deployed about 80,000 troops to its tribal regions to root out foreign militants and their local allies.

Pakistani officials say that 324 militants, including 76 foreigners had been killed in the area since last July.