Pakistan urges US to help resolve conflicts in S Asia, ME

Musharraf made these remarks during a meeting with a bipartisan US Senate delegation which included Republicans John McCain, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham and Democrats Russell Feingold and Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton. "The president has urged the United States to move from the stage of conflict management and assist in conflict resolution to bring durable peace to South Asia and the Middle East," a Pakistan foreign ministry statement said.

Musharraf during the hour-long meeting exchanged views with the US Senators on developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Pakistan-India peace process, it said.

The Senate delegation welcomed the progress in Pakistan's relations with its rival India and commended Musharraf's "courageous leadership" in fighting terrorism and extremism, it said.

Pakistan is a frontline ally of the United States in its war against terrorism.

Meanwhile, soldiers could clear mines from the bus route linking the two parts of the disputed region within a week after approval from Islamabad, a military commander said Monday.

The service, to start April 7, is the first tangible fruit of 13 months of dialogue between the neighbours who have fought three wars, two over Kashmir which each hold in part but claim in full.