Gordon Brown has defended the UK's anti-terror operation in the North West, but admitted "we are dealing with a very big terrorist plot".
The Prime Minister said: "We have been following this matter for some time. There are a number of people who have been arrested. That police operation was successful.
"We know there are links between terrorists in Britain and terrorists in Pakistan. That is an important issue for us to follow through and that is why I will be talking to Pakistan's President Zardari about what Pakistan can do to help us in the future."
Forensics officers are continuing to conduct meticulous searches of the raided addresses in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester and Liverpool.
The raids, involving hundreds of police officers, were brought forward 12 hours because of a blunder by Britain's top counter-terrorist officer.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick resigned after a security breach when he was photographed carrying a secret document containing details of the police operation into 10 Downing Street.
Mr Quick's demise came swiftly after photographs taken with zoom lenses in a split second as he got out of his chauffeur-driven car were circulated on the internet.
His gaffe led to the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee, which advises the media on national security matters, issuing a request to news organisations not to print the photograph.
The former Surrey chief constable decided to resign less than 12 hours later after conversations with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
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Critics pointed out Mr Quick, 49, will walk away from the Metropolitan Police with a pension of more than £110,000 and is likely to pick up lucrative consultancy work.
