Video| Pakistan refutes awareness of bin Laden presence in town centre

Yousuf Raza Gilani, the country's prime minister, claimed it was "disingenuous" for anyone to accuse either the Pakistani state or its various institutions, including its intelligence agencies, of "being in cahoots" with al-Qaeda.

Addressing parliament on Monday, Gilani said it was Pakistan's spy agency that had given "key leads" that ultimately led to the US raid on the compound in Pakistan's Abbottabad where bin Laden lived.

He said his country attached high importance to its relations with the United States, but warned that "unilateral actions" ran the risk of serious consequences.

Blaming "all intelligence agencies of the world" for failing to track bin Laden, Gilani said that an inquiry had been ordered, to be led by Pakistani Lieutenant-General Javed Iqbal.

"We will not allow our detractors to succeed in offloading their own shortcomings and errors of omission and commission in a blame game that stigmatises Pakistan," said Gilani, who termed allegations of complicity or incompetence on the part of Pakistan as "absurd".

He said the country's relations with the United States remained "strong", and that the relationship was based on mutual trust and respect. He said that both sides had agreed a continuing process of dialogue on issues of difference.

"We have a strategic partnership that we believe serves our mutual interests," he said. The prime minister also said that co-operation on intelligence was essential to serve both countries' objectives.

Regarding engagement with the world's major powers, Gilani said that an "ongoing multi-track process" would continue apace, adding that engagement with India would be pursued in a "positive and constructive manner".

Later on Monday, Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said the United States wanted to have a "cooperative relationship" with Pakistan.

"We believe it is very important to maintain a cooperative relationship with Pakistan, precisely because it's in our national security interests to do so," Carney told a news briefing.

He also said the US would "not apologise for the action that this president took" in ordering the raid on Abbottabad.