No decision made on F-16s at today's meetings: Powell
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

WASHINGTON (US): The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell Saturday said the issue about F-16s came up under discussion at the Oval Office meeting between President George Bush and President General Pervez Musharraf "but no decisions were made at the meetings today."

He remarked this in response to a question after calling on President General Pervez Musharraf at the local hotel where Pakistan leader is staying.

Meeting with President Musharraf

About his meeting with President Musharraf, Powell said "just had a very good meeting." "We are very pleased at the strength of our relationship," he said adding, both the countries are cooperating in so many areas-- global war on terror."

Secretary Powell said, with President Musharraf he held particularly good conversation about recent Afghan elections and how Pakistan played such a helpful role in helping to secure the countryside so that the Afghan people could vote. "And, we had a good discussion of our bilateral issues, issues relating to commerce and trade."

To a question, he said President Bush and Musharraf discussed dialogue process between Pakistan and India and "I had a longer discussion with President Musharraf." "Both sides are trying to find a way to move forward," he added.

The leaders of India and Pakistan, he said held good conversation when they were together at the U.N. in September this year.

FM-Level Meeting

He said the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India will be meeting in the near future, "with the possibility of the Prime Minister of India and President General Pervez Musharraf meeting early next year on the sidelines of the SAARC conference. "So, if they are talking to one another, and that's good compared to where we were two years ago."

Asked how concerned he is that Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, he said "of course we're concerned." "We would like him not to be on the loose. He's a terrorist. He is on the loose, but he's also under enormous pressure. He is being searched for."

Of the Tribal Belt

He said, Pakistan is fully engaged in the tribal areas. "They make some adjustments to their force requirements from time to time, but President Musharraf reassured us of his full engagement-- and Osama bin Laden is on the loose, but under pressure and being chased, and eventually he will be brought to justice."

Musharraf thanks Powell

The President thanked the outgoing Powell for his efforts in further cementing Pakistan-US ties.

President Musharraf also invited Colin Powell to undertake a visit to Pakistan with his family.●