"Pakistan is committed to fighting terrorism but naturally we cannot accept any action within our country which results in what happened over the weekend," Aziz told a joint news conference with former US President George Bush.

"So the relationship with the US is important, it is growing but at the same time such actions cannot be condoned."

The air raid on Friday in Damadola, a village in the Bajur tribal agency, targeted Al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, US intelligence sources have said, although Washington has not confirmed it launched the attack.

Pakistan lodged an official protest with the US embassy on Saturday and thousands of people chanting "Down with America" took to the streets in angry protests in major cities the following day.

"This is one unfortunate event where many innocent lives have been lost and that is why we in the government and cabinet today have expressed deep regret and condemned the incident," Aziz added.

"But our relationship with the US is of long standing and my trip to the United States is there on schedule because we want to engage on many issues including how we fight terrorism.

"This incident will also be discussed but communication and meeting each other and exchanging ideas never stopped."

Bush, visiting Pakistan as the United Nations special envoy for last October's devastating South Asian earthquake, told reporters that the United States was trying to help Pakistan.

"I leave that subject to so many people involved in the war on terror," he said when asked about the missile strike.

"I am here as a representative of the secretary general trying to help with the relief and reconstruction effort. But I think that the feeling generally is that the US is trying to help the people of Pakistan and I hope that's what prevails," he said.

Aziz leaves for Washington later Tuesday and is due to meet current President George W. Bush during his six-day stay.

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