Pakistan's premier yesterday withdrew an accusation that the army chief acted unconstitutionally in a further sign that a damaging standoff between the government and the military is coming to a close.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani released the remarks following talks with army chief of staff General Ashfaq Kayani and intelligence chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.
Gilani's office said he was "dispelling" comments to a Chinese newspaper this month that accused Kayani and Pasha of subverting government channels in recommending an investigation into a scandal threatening the president.
At the time Gilani also sacked his defence secretary and the army warned of "potential grievous consequences for the country", feeding frenzied speculation that the government's days could be numbered.
But state media quoted Gilani, who was flying to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as saying the remark was made "under a unique situation when... there was no clarity".
"But since (then) there is clarity and now we have all met, and that (remark) does not pertain to these two gentlemen," Gilani added.
The prime minister said the country "cannot work in an atmosphere of confrontation" among institutions.
"Therefore for the national interest we have to be seen on the same page," the official APP news agency quoted him as saying.
The remarks were seen as the latest attempt to calm tensions between his government and the powerful armed forces.
They come as the probe that the army recommended into a scandal implicating President Asif Ali Zardari appeared at risk of collapsing as investigators ruled out travelling to hear the testimony of the star witness.
American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, who linked Zardari to a memo seeking US help to rein in Pakistan's powerful military, has refused to give evidence in Pakistan, citing fears for his safety.
Giving Ijaz another opportunity to appear, a three-member judicial commission adjourned until February 9 and said they would ask the Supreme Court to extend their mandate, which was due to end on Saturday.