WASHINGTON, Oct 1: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Wednesday that he discussed the defence imbalance between Pakistan and India when he met President George W. Bush earlier in the day.

“I will also take up this matter with US Secretary of State Colin Powell when I meet him on Thursday,” Mr Jamali told a news conference in Washington.

Mr Jamali said President Bush also discussed with him the new draft resolution on Iraq that the United States is tabling in the UN Security Council.

President Bush hoped that this resolution would be more acceptable to the international community, he added. “I said that we would study the resolution and, due to the nature of the issue, I will take into confidence the parliament and the people of Pakistan.”

He said Pakistan and the United States “are partners in the war against terrorism” and “have vowed to root out this evil.”

“It is our consistent effort to root out terrorism and extremism in all its manifestations and forms,” said Mr Jamali, adding: “Terrorism clashes directly with my government’s vision for Pakistan, which is a vision of modernism and moderation in a forward looking state.”

The high-level exchanges between Pakistan and the United States, he said, “have strengthened their ties,” going beyond the agenda of anti-terrorism.

“Pakistan stands tall today with the revival of democracy. Important programmes are underway in the country aimed at systemic correction, revival of the economy and promoting human values and development,” he said.

Mr Jamali said that in the South Asian region Pakistan sought peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations. “We have offered unconditional dialogue to India so as to resolve amicably all our outstanding issues.”

Urging the United States to help resolve tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr Jamali said: “Pakistan greatly values the role of the United States in promoting stability and peace in South Asia.”

He said President Bush had assured him that “the United States will continue to play an important role in the revival of the Pakistan-India dialogue process.”

Pakistan, he said, believes that it’s the only way to resolve outstanding issues between the two neighbouring states, especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

“In our discussions (with President Bush) today, we reviewed the developments in Afghanistan and the situation in Iraq. We also took up matters concerning the vibrant Pakistani community in the United States,” he added.