US backs Pak8217;s 8216;territorial integrity8217;

8220;The United States affirmed its support for Pakistan8217;s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity,8221; according to the joint statement issued by the State Department.

8220;The United States is dedicated to providing Pakistan with the training and equipment it needs to fight terrorism, including support to enhance Pakistan8217;s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism capabilities and increased cooperation with Pakistani security forces,8221; it added.

Pakistan8217;s President Asif Ali Zardari has vowed zero tolerance against violations of Pakistan8217;s sovereignty amid stepped up US missile strikes into militant safe havens in Pakistan8217;s tribal areas.

Relations have also been strained by a reported raid by US special operations forces into Pakistan earlier this month.

Last Thursday, Pakistani and US troops exchanged fire along the border after two US military helicopters came under fire, a US military spokesman said.

Though both sides played down the incident later, Pakistan contended that the US helicopters had entered Pakistani territory while the United States argued they had not left Afghanistan.