Pervez Musharraf

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf meets Thursday with U.S. lawmakers and Secretary of State Colin Powell on the final day of his visit to Washington.

Pervez Musharraf, left, and George W. Bush

On Wednesday, Mr. Musharraf met at the White House with President Bush, who said Pakistan is now a key partner in the international anti-terrorism coalition.

The two leaders also discussed the fate of a missing American journalist Daniel Pearl and Pakistan's tense relations with India over the disputed Kashmir region. India accuses Pakistan of promoting terrorism in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies. Later, Mr. Musharraf met with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to discuss military cooperation and steps to ensure stability in Afghanistan. Mr. Rumsfeld praised Mr. Musharraf for making several tough decisions in the fight against terrorism.

Following his talks with Mr. Rumsfeld, the Pakistani leader told reporters the United States understands Pakistan's need for support, especially in the area of debt relief. However, he gave no details.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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