ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday repeated his call for a peaceful settlement to the Iraq crisis during a meeting with a US Senate delegation, an official statement said.

“The president of Pakistan emphasized a peaceful solution, including full compliance by Iraq with relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement quoted him as telling the four-member delegation.

The US delegation was led by Senator John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Other members were senior Democratic member Senator Carl Levin, Senator Pat Roberts and Senator John Rockefeller-IV.

“Both sides expressed satisfaction on the state of US-Pakistan relations,” the statement said.

They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in different areas, including defence, it said.

“The Senate delegation was deeply appreciative of the assistance provided by Pakistan in the global war against terrorism.

“It underlined the US desire to remain firmly engaged with Pakistan to lay the basis for a long-term, enduring and broad-based relationship.”

Important regional and international issues also came up for discussion during the meeting, including the security situation in South Asia, the statement added.

Gen Musharraf was assisted by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri. Besides, the US delegation called on Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Muhammad Yusaf Khan.

Matters pertaining to military affairs came under discussion during the meeting, said Inter-Service Public Relations.—AFP/APP