ISLAMABAD Pakistan said on Thursday it was not warned about a US missile strike in its northwest that came the same day a top American official assured Pakistani leaders of US respect for the nations sovereignty.

While denying prior knowledge of the reported strike, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi indicated Pakistans civilian leaders want to defuse tensions through diplomacy.

Qureshi, who was among those who met with Top US military official Admiral Mullen, told reporters that Pakistani officials were not informed of the suspected strike.

Asked about Mullens statement about commitment to respect the countrys soveriegnty, Qureshi said, its a clear, clear commitment to Pakistan to respect Pakistans sovereignty.

And now if having said that there was an attack later in the night, that means there is some sort of an institutional disconnect on their side, and if so, they will have to sort it out, he said.

US Embassy spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos declined to comment Thursday, in line with usual US avoidance of discussions of the alleged missile strikes.

Qureshi on Thursday asked Pakistanis to avoid issuing emotional statements about cross-border attacks.

He said he planned to give a very honest and frank assessment of what we are gaining and what we are losing by such actions in upcoming talks with US officials.

Our stance is that we should cooperate with each other, and such incursions cannot improve the atmosphere, and rather they will deteriorate it, and will be counterproductive, he said.

According to the AP, Qureshi said Pakistans new president, Asif Ali Zardari, would lead a delegation to the United Nations later this month and will meet American leaders on the sidelines.