The Washington Times Friday formally regretted for publication of a "disparaging" cartoon on May 6, which caused wider condemnation and strong protests in Pakistan, The Nation reported Saturday.

Wesley Pruden, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, in a letter to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, said "The cartoonist (Bill Garner) inadvertently caused offense to Pakistani citizens."

"This was not his intention and nor was it the intention of the newspaper," he, however, categorically stated. The newspaper, Pruden said, "regrets for the misunderstanding the cartoon has caused in Pakistan."

Mohammad Sadiq, the deputy chief of mission of the Pakistani embassy, had earlier strongly protested with the newspaper over the "insulting" cartoon, which led to strong protests in Pakistan.

Subsequently, the embassy had also conveyed the strong feelings and concern expressed in the unanimous resolution adopted earlier this week by the National Assembly condemning the publication of the cartoon.

While tendering regrets formally, the newspaper has assured the embassy "of the high esteem and deep respect in which the newspaper holds Pakistan and the Pakistani people," said the report.

Pruden stated, "The newspaper had published many editorials and cartoons noting the manifold contributions of Pakistan and its people to the mutual effort to eradicate terror and they would, no doubt, continue doing so in the future."

The Washington Times on May 6 published a cartoon showing a dog as Pakistan with a US soldier, who keeps his right hand on the dog while appreciating the arrest of a senior al-Qaida member Abu Faraj.

"Good boy! Now let's go find bin Laden," the US soldier tells the dog, who holds Faraj in his mouth.

Faraj was apprehended last week in the tribal area by the Pakistani intelligence agencies. He was believed to be al-Qaida's No.3 and know the hideouts of the terrorist group's leader bin Laden.