(CNN) -- The emergence of a purported statement from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden about U.S. policy in Pakistan as the U.S. president embarks on a major trip to Muslim countries is no coincidence, the White House spokesman and a counterterrorism official say.



Osama bin Laden is seen in an image taken from a videotape that aired on Al-Jazeera in September 2003.



"I think the reports we've seen are consistent with messages we've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday.



"But I don't think it's surprising that al Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world."



A U.S. counterterrorism official, asked about the statement, said bin Laden "has timed the release of tapes to major events so it is not surprising that he picked this particular week."



Al Jazeera, the Arabic-language TV network that aired the message on Wednesday, said the statement was "a voice recording by bin Laden." As for the tape's authenticity, a CNN analysis said the voice does indeed sound like the leader of the terrorist network that attacked the United States on September 11, 2001. The counterterrorism official said "there has never been a fake Bin Laden tape."



The message comes as Obama begins his trip to the Middle East, visiting Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and, in Egypt on Thursday, making a major speech to the Muslim world.



Zeroing in on the conflict in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where Pakistan's troops are taking on Taliban militants, the message asserts that Obama is proving that he is "walking the same road of his predecessors to build enmity against Muslims and increasing the number of fighters, and establishing more lasting wars."



The message said U.S. policy in Pakistan has generated "new seeds of hatred and revenge against America."



The remarks -- which would be bin Laden's first assessment of Obama's policy -- were believed to have been recorded several weeks ago at the start of a mass civilian exodus because of fighting in northwestern Pakistan.



The speaker cites strikes, destruction, and Obama's "order" to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari "to prevent the people of Swat from implementing sharia law."



"All this led to the displacement of about a million Muslim elders, women and children from their villages and homes. They became refugees in tents after they were honored in their own homes," the message says.



"This basically means that Obama and his administration put new seeds of hatred and revenge against America. The number of these seeds is the same as the number of those victims and refugees in Swat and the tribal area in northern and southern Waziristan."



And, the message says, "the American people need to prepare to only gain what those seeds bring up."  Watch what the speaker says on the tape »



The speaker also says Zardari and Pakistan's military chief, Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, continue to divert the army's main role from protecting the nation to fighting Islam and its followers. He says the war is also hurting Pakistan's economy, endangering the country's religion and security and "fulfilling an American, Jewish and Indian plot."



"Most of the Pakistani people reject this unjust war. Zardari did this in response to the ones paying him in the White House -- not 10 percent but multiple folds of that," the message says.



The message points to India's aspirations, saying it is "easy for India to subject the disassembled territories of Pakistan, one after another, for its own benefit, like the case of eastern Pakistan before, or even worse."



"This way, America eases its worry towards Pakistan's nuclear weapons," the message says.



Eastern Pakistan is a reference to Bangladesh, which had been part of Pakistan until it became an independent country in 1971. Pakistan and India have also been at odds over the disputed territory
( CNN ) -- The emergence of a purported statement from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden about U.S. policy in Pakistan as the U.S. president embarks on a major trip to Muslim countries is no coincidence , the White House spokesman and a counterterrorism official say . Osama bin Laden is seen in an image taken from a videotape that aired on Al - Jazeera in September 2003 . " I think the reports we 've seen are consistent with messages we 've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter - terrorism efforts , " White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday . " But I do n't think it 's surprising that al Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president 's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world . " A U.S. counterterrorism official , asked about the statement , said bin Laden " has timed the release of tapes to major events so it is not surprising that he picked this particular week . " Al Jazeera , the Arabic - language TV network that aired the message on Wednesday , said the statement was " a voice recording by bin Laden . " As for the tape 's authenticity , a CNN analysis said the voice does indeed sound like the leader of the terrorist network that attacked the United States on September 11 , 2001 . The counterterrorism official said " there has never been a fake Bin Laden tape . " The message comes as Obama begins his trip to the Middle East , visiting Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and , in Egypt on Thursday , making a major speech to the Muslim world . Zeroing in on the conflict in Pakistan 's Swat Valley , where Pakistan 's troops are taking on Taliban militants , the message asserts that Obama is proving that he is " walking the same road of his predecessors to build enmity against Muslims and increasing the number of fighters , and establishing more lasting wars . " The message said U.S. policy in Pakistan has generated " new seeds of hatred and revenge against America . " The remarks -- which would be bin Laden 's first assessment of Obama 's policy -- were believed to have been recorded several weeks ago at the start of a mass civilian exodus because of fighting in northwestern Pakistan . The speaker cites strikes , destruction , and Obama 's " order " to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari " to prevent the people of Swat from implementing sharia law . " " All this led to the displacement of about a million Muslim elders , women and children from their villages and homes . They became refugees in tents after they were honored in their own homes , " the message says . " This basically means that Obama and his administration put new seeds of hatred and revenge against America . The number of these seeds is the same as the number of those victims and refugees in Swat and the tribal area in northern and southern Waziristan . " And , the message says , " the American people need to prepare to only gain what those seeds bring up . " Watch what the speaker says on the tape » The speaker also says Zardari and Pakistan 's military chief , Ashfaq Pervez Kayani , continue to divert the army 's main role from protecting the nation to fighting Islam and its followers . He says the war is also hurting Pakistan 's economy , endangering the country 's religion and security and " fulfilling an American , Jewish and Indian plot . " " Most of the Pakistani people reject this unjust war . Zardari did this in response to the ones paying him in the White House -- not 10 percent but multiple folds of that , " the message says . The message points to India 's aspirations , saying it is " easy for India to subject the disassembled territories of Pakistan , one after another , for its own benefit , like the case of eastern Pakistan before , or even worse . " " This way , America eases its worry towards Pakistan 's nuclear weapons , " the message says . Eastern Pakistan is a reference to Bangladesh , which had been part of Pakistan until it became an independent country in 1971 . Pakistan and India have also been at odds over the disputed territory
What does White House say?
What does White House say ?
"I think the reports we've seen are consistent with messages we've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts,"
"I think the reports we've seen are consistent with messages we've seen in the past from al Qaeda threatening the U.S. and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts,"