Washington: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on May 14 said he believed anti-terror co-operation between Islamabad and Washington could lead to a mature and enduring alliance.

Kasuri, in Washington to prepare for a visit next month by President Pervez Musharraf, made the case for sustained engagement of Pakistan by Washington, apparently pushing for similar status in US eyes as Islamabad's bitter rival India.

"Bilateral ties between our two countries have been revived after the terrible tragedy of September 2001," Kasuri said at a lunch in Pakistan's Embassy honouring US Senator Sam Brownback.

"Relations with the US have been qualitatively transformed. Pakistan has moved to a centrestage of US foreign policy, a key player in the war on terrorism."

"This is as much a reflection of Pakistan's pivotal geo-strategic position in the region and the Islamic world as of the critical choices made by Pakistan to join the international coalition against terrorism."

"This evolving partnership has the potential to mature into an enduring alliance," Kasuri said.

"To reach the full potential of their relations, the two sides need to ensure a broad-based and sustained engagement in the future," said Kasuri, who was due to meet US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on May 14, said.