Washington: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has hosted talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Inamul Haq, a year after Pakistan's decision to join the US anti- terror campaign.

The two men on September 23 discussed all aspects of common US-Pakistan interests in "critical areas", said a state department official on condition of anonymity.

"Pakistan is a key ally in the war against terrorism and President Musharraf has denounced extremism and vowed to prevent the use of Pakistan as a base for terrorists," the official said.

However, officials were unable to give a detailed readout of the talks, other than reaffirm US support for Pakistan's efforts to combat extremism and a desire to help Islamabad peacefully ease its bitter rivalry with India.

The talks follow a recent encounter between President George W Bush and President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Powell has taken a key personal role in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan this year, twice visiting South Asia and conducting an intense campaign of telephone diplomacy, when the rivals' bitterness several times sparked fears of a nuclear war.