Pakistan's main political leaders have backed President Gen Pervez Musharraf's decision to support possible US action against Afghanistan over last week's attacks on New York and Washington.
But they warned a decision to allow Pakistani airbases or territory to be used for an attack on the country's neighbour and long-time ally would trigger a severe backlash with implications for national stability.
A small number of hardline religious parties expressed outright opposition to any form of cooperation with the United States, officials said after a meeting between Gen Musharraf and party and religious leaders that ended earlier today.
"The consensus was that Pakistan simply cannot afford to have America as an enemy," one of the participants said.
A government spokesman said a large majority of the 28 participants at the talks supported the government decision but admitted there had been strong opposition from leaders of some religious-political parties.
According to officials, Gen Musharraf told the political leaders the US had asked Pakistan to allow the use of its airspace and provide logistics and intelligence support in any military operation against terror suspect Osama bin Laden and his associates in Afghanistan.
Gen Musharraf had argued strongly that Pakistan, which is faced with huge economic difficulties, had no option but to support the United States.
AFP