ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Wednesday that he held extremely useful talks with Pakistani leaders on cooperation in the war against terrorism.

Talking to journalists at the Chaklala Airbase at the end of his two-day visit, he said a wide range of matters of mutual concern had been discussed during his meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal.

Answering a question about the operation against Al Qaeda along the border with Afghanistan, Mr Hoon praised Islamabad's role and said discussions were held on efforts being made by Pakistan to deal with the threat of terrorism along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

"We certainly held some extremely good discussions about the efforts being made by Pakistan to deal with the threats across the border," he added. Mr Hoon said his country strongly welcomed the steps taken by Pakistan because in the course of British operations in Afghanistan in the past, there had been the problem of Al Qaeda terrorists escaping into the mountains and beyond.

"So the combination of efforts on both sides of the border, I believe will be increasingly successful," said Mr Hoon. Replying to a question about the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India, the British defence secretary said he was encouraged by the conversations he held with the leaders of India and Pakistan. He welcomed the steps taken by Pakistan for the peace process.

"It is important...to allow both countries to work together successfully to achieve peace, and steps that Pakistan has been taking are very, very welcome," he said. Referring to his meetings with the defence ministers of Pakistan and India and Pakistan, Mr Hoon said these were routine meetings.

"I have been delighted to meet my colleague here in Pakistan. I am going to meet the new defence minister of India this afternoon. These are part of normal exchanges that take place between friends," he said. Mr Hoon, who arrived here on Monday, later left for Delhi.