ISLAMABAD, April 5: The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard A. Boucher, called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday and reiterated the commitment of the United States to seeking lasting strategic ties with Pakistan.

During the meeting held at the Army House in Rawalpindi, matters relating to Pakistan-US relations and regional issues of common interest were discussed.

Speaking on the occasion, President Musharraf stressed the need for consolidating and expanding bilateral cooperation in diverse areas in the framework of the Pakistan-US joint statement on strategic partnership issued during the visit of President Bush to Pakistan last month.

Mr Boucher said that the US would enhance support to strengthen Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

The president reaffirmed the resolve of his government to maintain the country’s economic growth rate and said that its expanding energy requirements would be met through a variety of sources, including nuclear power generation.

He underscored the importance of expeditious realization of the proposal for setting up reconstruction opportunity zones for the development of the tribal areas and the earthquake-affected region.

In the regional context, President Musharraf highlighted his government’s commitment to the peace process with India and its efforts for resolving the bilateral issues, including the Kashmir dispute.

He underlined the importance of moving to conflict resolution in South Asia and appreciated President Bush’s commitment of US support for a Kashmir solution acceptable to all sides.—APP

Our reporter adds: President Musharraf told Mr Boucher that his government wanted the US to allow its companies to invest in energy projects in Pakistan’s ‘designated industrial parks.’