Washington, Dec.12 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has once again urged Pakistan to cooperate more with America to help dismantle and destroy the Al-Qaeda.

Terming the lawless tribal region along the Pakistan, Afghanistan border, as the “epicenter of the violent extremism directed against the West and the United States,” Obama said Pakistan must assist Washington fully in its war against the extremist groups based in the region.

“Ultimately, in order for us to eradicate the problem, to really go after Al-Qaeda… we are going to need more cooperation from Pakistan. There is no doubt about that,” Obama said in an interview, which would be aired on Sunday.

Earlier, concerned by the arrest of five US Muslim men in Pakistan, who were purportedly on their way to the Taliban’s ‘jihad’ camp, Obama said that a series of investigations would be carried out to investigate the whole issue.

A statement released by the White House quoted Obama as telling a news conference in Norway that the arrests would be thoroughly investigated.

“I think the details are still forthcoming. There will undoubtedly be a series of investigations surrounding these events, so I’d prefer not to comment on them at this point,” Obama said.

Obama also assured the American Muslim Community that the arrests of the five men, who were reported missing from Virginia from last month, does not reflect their loyalty to the US. (ANI)