Islamabad, July 29: The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff today held talks with his Pakistani counterpart here and discussed "bilateral defence matters," according to us officials who were tight-lipped about whether the parleys included seeking Pakistani peacekeeping troops for Iraq. It is believed that gen. Richard b. Myers has also discussed Washington's move to seek Pakistani forces for Iraq, but the us embassy officials did not provide details on the issue.

Myers, who arrived from India earlier today, held talks with Pakistani Gen. Aziz Khan, said embassy spokeswoman Linda Cheatham, giving no further details.
The US General is likely to stay in Islamabad for one day and is scheduled to travel to Afghanistan to review the security situation there.
Pakistan has repeatedly said that it is ready to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq, but only under the auspices of the United Nations, GCC or any international mandate.

It was the second visit by a top US military official to Pakistan in less than a week. Last Wednesday, US Central Command chief gen. John Abizaid met with President Pervez Musharraf to press him to send troops to Iraq.
Pakistan opposition parties, especially the Islamic groups, have strongly opposed any move to send troops to Iraq, saying that religious scholars would go for social boycott of those forces who will work under US military.
Bureau Report