WASHINGTON, Feb 13: President Gen Pervez Musharraf met a broad spectrum of US officials and politicians representing both sides of the aisle, leaders of world financial institutions and top leaders of major American corporations on the first day of his official visit to the United States.

A spokesman for the President, Maj-Gen Rashid Quereshi, said those meeting Gen Musharraf applauded his decision to join the US war against terrorism and his fight against extremists. “Every sort of assurance was given today. There was no negativity at all. It was all positive, positive,” said Gen Quereshi. “Everyone said they would help Pakistan in every way possible,” he added.

When asked if there were any concern expressed by anyone about Pakistan, Quereshi said: “No one expressed any such concern to the President that he is aware of.”

Those who met President General Musharraf at the Balir House included the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank, Alan Greenspan, who reportedly never goes to meet anyone, Managing-director of the International Monetary Fund Horst Kohler, President of the World Bank James Wolfensshon, Vice-Chairman of EXIM Bank, OPIC Chairman, US Middle-East envoy Anthony Zinni, Chairman of House Appropriations Committee Congressman P.W. Young, Chairman of House Defence Committee, Jerry Lewis, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, ranking member of House Appropriations Committee, and several other ranking senators and congressmen, Chairmen of Proctor and Gamble, Coca Cola, Phillip Morris, and AES energy giant, Nike.