ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: President Gen Musharraf on Friday said that the US military assistance to Pakistan was critical for maintaining military balance in the region.

He was talking to a US defence delegation which called on him under the leadership of Under Secretary for Defence Douglas J. Feith.

The US officials, visiting Pakistan for the 16th meting of the Pakistan-US Defence Consultative Group, also met the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Ehsan ul Haq.

Appreciating the $3billion economic and military aid package which the United States has announced for Pakistan, the president expressed the hope that the visit would serve to enhance the defence cooperation between the two countries.

During the two meetings, matters related to strategic understanding, regional balance and bilateral defence cooperation came under discussion. The delegation assured President Musharraf of continued US cooperation for Pakistan as a frontline state in the war against terrorism. Progress on the $3 billion economic and military assistance package commencing this year was reviewed during the meeting.

According to an official statement issued after the meeting, Mr Feith described his interaction with Pakistan's defence officials as fruitful and said Washington was willing to provide more assistance to Islamabad in the socio-economic field.

A separate statement issued by the Inter-Service Public Relations said that during his meeting with the Chairman JCSC, Gen Ehsan, Mr Douglas appreciated the role played by the armed forces of Pakistan in the war against terrorism. The strategic understanding would pave way for enhancement of bilateral relations, it added.