RAWALPINDI, April 13: United States Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday and reiterated US commitment to broadening and deepening its strategic relationship with Pakistan. Mr Rumsfeld expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s important role in promoting regional peace and stability and its critical cooperation in the global war on terrorism.

He reaffirmed the US decision to enhance military assistance to Pakistan and strengthen defence cooperation with the country.

He said the US would be stepping up support to meet Pakistan’s legitimate defence needs.

He praised President Musharraf for his initiatives to promote peace and stability in South Asia. He expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support for the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The president appreciated the US decision to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan and said it would be an important factor for preserving regional peace and security. —APP

Qudssia Akhlaque adds: During the meeting, the launch of the trans-Kashmir bus service and President Musharraf’s forthcoming visit to India figured in the talks, sources said.

Opportunities for Pakistan in the reconstruction of Iraq also came up during the discussion, as did the abduction of a Pakistani embassy staff member in Baghdad.

According to the sources, there was no discussion or demand for contribution of Pakistani troops in Iraq.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal and US Ambassador Ryan C. Croker attended the meeting.

Mr Rumsfeld had arrived here on Wednesday on a one-day visit.

On arrival at the Chaklala airbase, he was received by Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Minister of State for Defence Zahid Hamid and Defence Secretary Tariq Wasim Ghazi.

His departure is scheduled for Thursday morning.

He had flown in from Kabul where he held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

According to an AFP report, Mr Karzai expressed his country’s desire to have a long-term security relationship with the United States in order to defend itself.

Speaking at a press conference, he said: “We want this relationship to be a sustained economic and political relationship, and most importantly of all, a strategic security relationship to help Afghanistan defend itself.”

Mr Rumsfeld said the US military’s relationship between Afghanistan and the United States had “grown and strengthened,” but he avoided the issue of whether Washington hoped to establish permanent military bases.