WASHINGTON: The United States respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and always grieves loss of innocent life, a White House official said Friday without specifically commenting on any US-led coalition forces action on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border.

“We respect their sovereignty and we support their new civilian government,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

President Bush, she added, “Grieves any time there is a loss of innocent life.”

She was speaking in the wake of US-led forces’ missile strikes and a raid on a Pakistani border village this week, which claimed several innocent lives.

Washington, she said, remains in constant touch with Pakistan “I have no comment on reports of anything in Pakistan.

As I said yesterday, however, we are in constant communication with the Pakistanis,” she said.

The spokeswoman reiterated the United States resolve to work with Pakistan in fighting terrorism.