ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Underscoring growing alarm in the West at how militants have regained ground in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Vice President Cheney yesterday sought Pakistani aid to help counter Al Qaeda’s efforts to regroup, officials said.

However, President Musharraf insisted his forces have already “done the maximum” possible against extremists in their territory — and insisted that other allies also shoulder responsibility in the American-led war on terrorism.

Mr. Cheney, accompanied by CIA deputy director Steve Kappes, made an unannounced stop in Pakistan en route to Afghanistan, where snow prevented him from reaching Kabul for talks with Afghanistan’s President Karzai.

The vice president made no public comment in Pakistan, but a senior aide to General Musharraf said they held detailed talks, including a one-on-one lunch of more than an hour.

“Cheney expressed U.S. apprehensions of regrouping of Al Qaeda in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat,” General Musharraf’s office said. He also “expressed serious U.S. concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and Al Qaeda ‘spring offensive’ against allied forces in Afghanistan,” the statement said.

The Musharraf aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not an official spokesman, said the two men “exchanged ideas and suggestions” on improving cooperation against terrorism. However, he said Mr. Cheney made no specific demands.