WASHINGTON, Feb 6: Anyone who assisted the US on its operation against Osama bin Laden, was working against Al Qaeda and not against Pakistan, the Pentagon said on Monday, while commenting on Islamabad’s decision to detain a physician who helped CIA find the terror chief.

Earlier this week, a group of US Congressmen sought American citizenship for the jailed physician, Dr Shakeel Afridi.

At the Pentagon, Press Secretary George Little said he would not comment specifically on the move, but disagreed with those who say that Dr Afridi had committed an act of treason.

On Sunday, the US congressional record office placed the details of this proposed legislation on its site.

“I have introduced legislation to grant American citizenship to Dr Shakeel Afridi, the Pakistani medical doctor who risked his life to identify Osama bin Laden and help US military forces bring him to justice,” the record quoted the mover, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, as saying.

“The bill would grant him US citizenship and send a direct and powerful message to those in the Pakistani government and military who protected the mastermind of 9/11 and are now seeking retribution on those who helped execute Bin Laden,” Mr Rohrabacher said in the House of Representatives.