US to work more closely with Pakistan: Armitage

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri (L) listens to US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage (C) while US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan Crocker (2ndR) and US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca look on during a meeting in Islamabad yesterday. Armitage arrived in Islamabad late Monday for talks with Pakistani leaders on Iraq, Afghanistan and terrorism, the foreign office said. PHOTO: AFP

Armitage, accompanied by US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca, held talks with senior Pakistani officials on topics including Afghanistan, Iraq and peace moves between Islamabad and New Delhi.

"The US government would not only maintain continuity in its policy towards Pakistan but strive towards enhancing US-Pakistan relations in economic and commercial spheres," Armitage was quoted as saying by a Pakistani foreign ministry statement.

The US is looking at ways to accelerate its "interaction with Pakistan," the statement said. Cooperation in defence, the war on terror, Afghanistan and Iraq figured prominently during the wide-ranging discussions, it added.

Armitage earlier held talks with a delegation led by Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar.

Khokhar conveyed Pakistan's desire to promote "a solid, broad-based and long term relationship with the US encompassing cooperation in areas of investment, trade and defence."

The two sides also discussed progress in peace talks between Pakistan and India and peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan after last month's landmark presidential polls.

Armitage said President Pervez Musharraf's proposal to consider various options on resolving the thorny Kashmir dispute with India was a "way forward".

"I think he has caused a great deal of thinking both in India and Pakistan about the way forward," Armitage told state-run television.

The foreign ministry statement said Armitage expressed satisfaction at the continuing engagement between Pakistan and India.

"Pakistan and the US as coalition partners, would continue to cooperate in the war against terrorism," it added.

The US envoy later met Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri. They expressed satisfaction at the steady growth of relations between the two countries and voiced "confidence that relations will be further strengthened during the second term of President," it said.

The ministry said he would call on President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz later in the day.

Armitage flew to Islamabad late Monday on a two-day visit, his second to Islamabad this year after one in July.

"Pakistan would like to have stable, durable and longer-lasting relations with the United States," foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan said Monday.