Islamabad, Jan 04: Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali returned home after a five-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he discussed regional security and Pakistan's ongoing dispute with India, foreign ministry officials said today. After arriving at the airport in Islamabad, the capital, late Tuesday, Jamali said his visit was "extremely useful and fruitful."

During talks with Saudi King Fahd, crown Prince Abdullah and other officials of the oil-rich kingdom, Jamali said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with nuclear rival India on their dispute o ver the Himalayan region of Kashmir, a senior foreign ministry official told the Associated Press. The two sides also discussed a possible US attack on Iraq. Pakistan has said previously it opposes any unilateral action against Iraq, and called for strict adherence to UN resolutions there.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia consult regularly. Both supported the Taliban militia in Afghanistan before allying themselves with the US anti-terrorism campaign following the September11 attacks in the United States. Bureau Report