ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Monday that Pakistan was poised to reap further benefits for backing the US war on terrorism, in the shape of military-to-military contacts.

Pakistan’s “bold and courageous” President Pervez Musharraf had taken just 24 hours to choose sides after the Sept 11 airliner attacks on the United States, despite the backlash he faced at home, Powell told journalists on his way to Pakistan.

Powell, who visits India on Tuesday as part of his three-nation Asian trip, said sanctions still barred supplies of military hardware to Pakistan.

He referred instead to military exchanges that he said were always in long-term US interests because they gave people a taste of how the military works in a democratic society.

Asked if Congress would need to approve such contacts, he said: “Let me check and I’ll get you an answer but I think we’re going to do something in the next 24 hours.”

A senior State Department official later made clear that Washington was examining Pakistan’s performance across the board with a view to further easing sanctions but that deliveries of military equipment were not on the table and had not been requested.

He said Congress would need to give the go-ahead for the military staff exchanges to take place. But Powell’s confidence seemed to indicate the lawmakers were likely to concur.

The United States lifted an array of military, economic and other sanctions against Pakistan after it agreed to support military strikes against Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban.

Powell said he and Musharraf would also discuss safety and testing of nuclear weapons, which became a key issue after India and Pakistan held tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998.

The United States has been anxious to get Pakistan to improve safety measures on its nuclear arsenal, fearing a nightmare scenario where hardline Islamic militants depose Musharraf in a coup just as he took power in 1999.

Part of the purpose of Powell’s trip is to reduce tensions between rival India and Pakistan.

Powell’s comments on Monday again showed the US interest in keeping the two relationships balanced.

“We think it’s useful to have military to military relations with both of these countries in terms of giving them the opportunity to train their officers and military leaders in our schools, and for us to send some of our folks to their schools as well,” he said.—Reuters