Pakistan said Monday that US forces had conducted the operation that killed Osama bin Laden “in accordance with declared US policy”.

Islamabad said bin Laden was killed in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad early Monday in an “intelligence-driven operation”.

“This operation was conducted by the US forces in accordance with declared US policy that Osama bin Laden will be eliminated in a direct action by the US forces, wherever found in the world,” the foreign ministry said.

US President Barack Obama had telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari earlier Monday over the “successful US operation”, it said.

The official statement went on to say that Pakistan has played a “significant role” in counter-terrorism efforts.

“We have had extremely effective intelligence sharing arrangements with several intelligence agencies including that of the US. We will continue to support international efforts against terrorism,” it said.