WASHINGTON, 3 October 2003 — Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali during his meeting with US President George W. Bush here sought Washington’s help in normalizing ties with India.

“Pakistan greatly values the role of the US in promoting stability and peace in South Asia,” Jamali said at a press conference after the meeting with Bush at the White House Oval Office on Wednesday.

Jamali said they also discussed developments in Afghanistan and the situation in Iraq.

Making a brief public appearance in the Oval Office before Bush hosted a lunch for the Pakistani leader, the two exchanged pleasantries but carefully avoided any mention of issues like Jammu and Kashmir or attacks from Pakistan into neighboring Afghanistan by Taleban and Al-Qaeda remnants.

Bush said their discussions would focus on “a wide range of issues: Our mutual desire to fight terror, our keen desire to bring stability and peace throughout the world” and efforts to broaden commercial ties.

“We want a long lasting friendship with the US,” responded Jamali. The prime minister is on a three-day visit to Washington.

After the meeting, White House aides declined to give any details of the discussions, merely saying that Bush and Jamali discussed Iraq, the war on terrorism and bilateral and regional issues.

Jamali appeared to tout his efforts to re-establish democratic rule in Pakistan since assuming the post of prime minister following the October 2002 general elections.

The 2002 elections allowed Pakistan’s National Assembly to reconvene for the first time since its dissolution in 1999.

Welcoming Jamali on his first official visit to the US, Bush said: “It’s my honor to welcome you to the Oval Office. I look forward to our discussions. “We’ll discuss a wide range of issues — our mutual desire to fight terror; our keen desire to bring stability and peace throughout the world. (We) Look forward to discussions about our bilateral relations in regard to commerce, and opportunities to enhance the livelihood of our fellow citizens.

“There are a lot of Pakistani-Americans who are pleased you are here today, sir. And on their behalf, I welcome you to the Oval Office. And it gives me a chance to say publicly how much we appreciate the friendship of Pakistan.”

Jamali replied: “Pakistan is helping as a partner — is a partner as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned; as far as our bilateral relations are concerned. We want a long lasting friendship with the US, and that is why I’m here — to bring a message of the new democratic set-up that I set in Pakistan the last 10 months. And, in short, we intend getting that through. Of course, with a pat on the back as far as President Bush is concerned.”

Earlier White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that he expected the two leaders to talk about the cooperation in the war on terrorism, besides regional issues, such as Kashmir. Replying to a question, McClellan said Bush made it clear last week to the leaders of India and Pakistan that it was important to have dialogue to help reduce tensions in the region.

“And so I’m sure that that topic came up as well, and other issues,” he added. Jamali told the press conference that he discussed with Bush the “defense imbalance” between Pakistan and India.

He also said he would take up the matter with US Secretary of State Colin Powell when he meets him.

Jamali said the new UN resolution on Iraq drafted by the US also came up during his talks with Bush. He said the president expressed the hope that this time the resolution would be more acceptable to the international community.

Jamali is understood to have told Bush that Islamabad would take any decision on the new resolution “after studying it and taking into confidence the Parliament and the people of Pakistan.”

He reiterated that Pakistan and the US “are partners in the war against terrorism” and “have vowed to root out this evil”.