Islamabad, Aug 23: A delegation of six US lawmakers discussed cooperation against terrorism today with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, a foreign ministry official said. The delegation led by one-time presidential candidate and ranking member of the US Senate Commerce Committee Arizona Republican John McCain, includes two representatives and three senators. Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its 22-month war on terror, providing at least three airbases for US-led troops hunting al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and capturing some 500 al-Qaeda suspects on its own soil. "The US lawmakers also held a breakfast meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz," Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told a news agency. The meetings covered the full range of Pakistan-US relations, Khan said, with the Pakistani leaders urging greater support for Pakistan in the US legislature.
"The two sides also discussed better coordination and cooperation in economic, commercial and defence fields."

The US lawmakers were to depart Pakistan today. Their trip also took them to the afghan capital, Kabul.

Bureau Report