Islamabad: Pakistan has been formally asked by the United States to consider sending its troops to Iraq for peacekeeping purposes.

The request was made by General Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, to his Pakistani counterpart General Mohammad Aziz Khan, during is daylong visit to Pakistan on July 29.

Myers arrived in Islamabad on July 29 at the head of a seven-member military delegation to discuss ways to strengthen military co-operation between the two countries.

"Professional matters and issues of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting," an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announcement said about the Myers-Aziz meeting.

Though Pakistan's response to the request was not immediately known, official sources told 'The News' that since 34 countries are already providing ground forces, medical and financial support in Iraq, there would be no problem for Pakistan in extending such a support.

On July 29, Myers described Central Iraq as still being a "war zone," allegedly contradicting President George Bush's May declaration that major combat operations in that country were over.

Sources said the two Generals discussed the regional situation, efforts to resolve Pak-Afghan border situation, the Iraq problem and other international security matters.

The US is currently trying to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the border issues through a tripartite group. Earlier before his arrival in Islamabad, Myers had told a press conference in New Delhi, "It's fair to say it (Iraq) is still a war zone. It's still a very challenging environment, a very hard environment."

On May 1, Bush declared victory in Iraq that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended". Myers said he was not contradicting the President, adding that Bush had used "specific language" to refer to "major conflicts" in Iraq and Myers said that was true.

"Militarily we won't be defeated in Iraq," he said. "We will stay until the job is done."

"There was no discussion of Indian troops to Iraq," Myers said, adding "The Indian government has already made a decision on that."

ANI