Washington: Cross-border terrorism and possibility of sending Indian troops for peacekeeping in Iraq came up for discussion at a meeting at the White House on June 9 between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and US President George W Bush.

Emerging from the half-an-hour meeting to which the Deputy Prime Minister was invited by Bush, Advani said that he discussed with Bush cross-border terrorism and a range of other issues.

Asked whether ties between India and Pakistan were discussed in detail, Advani said, "He (Bush) reflected our concerns and our problems but not specifically".

Asked whether Indo-Pak relations would be discussed between Bush and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf when the military ruler visits US in the last week of this month, Advani said, "I'm sure that will be discussed".

He said Bush brought up the issue of India's contribution to peacekeeping operations in Iraq and Advani said he told the American President that the Indian Cabinet committee on Security had discussed the issue twice and needed some clarifications.

Bush immediately agreed to send a team to New Delhi on June 16 to discuss the issue and provide the clarifications, he said.

India has so far hedged on the issue of sending troops to Iraq where the US is finding the goings increasingly hostile.

Bush, according to Advani, said he greatly appreciated peace initiatives taken by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with Pakistan and he naturally had in mind that India can take initiative of this kind only if it is confident about its own security, said.

"Bush agreed every country has to look after its security," Advani said.

President Bush said in his discussion with Vajpayee in St Petersburg recently he had referred to the Prime Minister's initiative several times.

Bush was particularly appreciative of the Indian Prime Minister's speech in Srinagar which provided political space to our neighbour, said Advani.

"We can only hope that Pakistan responds positively to this initiative and that it yields results," the Deputy Prime Minister added.

PTI