President George W. Bush welcomes visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the Oval Office in Washington on Jan 24. (Photo as it appears on www.whitehouse.gov)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told President Bush Islamabad wants all conflicts including Kashmir, resolved in the Subcontinent, but he also conceded there was no such thing as a 'bad' or 'good' terrorist.

President Bush met Jan. 24 morning at the Oval Office in the Prime Minister's first ever visit to the White House.

For years now, Pakistan has tried to portray terrorists in Kashmir as freedom fighters much to India's chagrin. But with Washington taking a hard-line post-9/11 that any freedom fighters using violence would be classified as terrorists, and successfully getting this definition incorporated in United Nations documents along with India, this has become an untenable position for President Musharraf and his government.

'We have just had a wide-ranging discussion, which one should expect when we've got a strategic relationship like we have with Pakistan,' said President Bush adding that the relations with Pakistan were 'vital' to the U.S. and for defeating terrorists.

The two talked about the importance of trade and commerce and investment, the global response to the earthquake and the resulting devastation and death of some 75,000 people. Mr. Bush, in a continuing attempt to win the hearts and minds of Muslims around the world, emphasized the level of aid the US gave to Pakistan.

'I was very pleased that the United States, our taxpayers, our military could contribute to helping the people of Pakistan

recover. They are our friends, and

we consider this friendship to be a vital friendship for keeping the peace,' Mr. Bush said. This in a country where public opinion polls have repeatedly shown an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis dislike Bush and the U.S..

Aziz acknowledged the level of assistance in the form of Chinook helicopters, the MASH hospitals, the engineers, and the financial assistance .

The help, 'has touched the hearts and minds of all Pakistanis -- and including your private sector and civil society,' Aziz maintained, adding, 'A sense of caring and sharing always builds a better relationship between countries. And that's what we are seeing between Pakistan and the United States.'

As Musharraf fights off public condemnation for alleged U.S. incursions into Pakistani territories to fight against al Qaeda elements, he requires US backing even

more. However, at this meeting, Aziz spoke of a 'multifaceted relationship' between the two countries and said the discussions covered economic, trade and investment

issues. "-- we are very keen to expand that. Pakistan has a growing economy, and U.S. investors can take part in this growth," Aziz said.

South Asia, Aziz maintained, had many issues and challenges, and that Pakistan was trying to pursue peace with its neighbors.

"We want a solution of all disputes, including the Kashmir dispute. We want to see a strong, stable Afghanistan. We are against proliferation of nuclear weapons by anybody. And we want to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist, and terrorism knows no borders," Aziz said.

Mr. Bush also said he was also looking forward to his visit to that country in March. Even as tremendous security concerns are dogging Bush's security force when he travels to India and Pakistan, Aziz emphasized that the people of Pakistan were looking

forward to Bush's visit."… because we

think that this is an important visit for building relations further between our two countries and serving the cause of peace in the world."