Aziz’s comments came after leading US Democrats submitted a non-binding resolution to the Senate calling for such steps.

The resolution, submitted by Senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry and Joseph Biden, was reported by the Web edition of the News, Pakistan’s biggest-selling English-language daily, on Wednesday.

“Given the sacrifices Pakistan has made in the war on terrorism any legislation critical of Pakistan would involve a negative public reaction that would prove to be counter-productive,” Aziz said in remarks to a military symposium organised in Islamabad by the Pakistani and US militaries.

President Pervez Musharraf is engulfed in a crisis over moves to sack the country’s Supreme Court chief justice, but has assured Pakistanis that he will not invoke emergency powers, and that elections due later this year or in 2008 will be on time.

The United States’ relationship with its ally in the war on terrorism has been under intense scrutiny for months because of growing frustration over the strength of a Taliban insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan, and the failure to capture al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Pakistan has also been stung by reports that US forces in Afghanistan have on occasion fired at militant targets in Pakistani territory, and sometimes even crossed the border.

“The sovereignty and territorial integrity is sacrosanct. Our armed forces are fully capable of taking any action required in our territory,” Aziz told the audience of military representatives from 22 countries.

“It is counter-productive to engage in accusations and counter-accusations as these only benefit our opponents,” he said, adding that quiet diplomacy should be used to settle differences.

US leaders habitually praise Musharraf for cooperation in security matters when they meet him.

Lower-ranking officials, however, often have aired frustration over the presence of what they say are Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan, and US generals say the insurgency’s command and control is located there.

Aziz said Pakistan’s much-criticised strategy of reaching peace accords with tribal elders in the restive Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan was showing signs of success.

Tribesmen have been battling to drive out Al Qaeda-linked militants from their lands, and scores of foreign fighters have been killed since last month.