Australian Prime Minister John Howard has come in for sharp criticism from the Australian media for praising Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for his 'determined and courageous fight' against terrorism.

Howard, while congratulating Musharraf for the arrest of top Al Qaeda operative Sheikh Khalid Mohammed, on Monday told the Parliament, "I do not think there is a world leader who has put more on the line in the fight against world terrorism, in many respects, than General Musharraf. I regard his personal courage and leadership on this issue as having been quite outstanding."

Reacting to Howard's remarks, The Sydney Morning Herald said that his 'Pakistan pin-up is a poor choice. Musharraf is our friend, because he handed over one senior Al Qaeda operative, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to the Americans'.

"Remember this glowing endorsement, for it bears no relation to the emerging truth about the regime in Pakistan, and there is every chance those words will come back to haunt Howard."

Howard had congratulated the agencies of the United States and Pakistan for their 'effective work' in bringing about the arrest of Mohammed.