Washington: The US Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf about "the situation in the region and in terms of the dialogue between Pakistan and India" State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said.

He said the two leaders talked with each other on April 13. He did not elaborate.

Asked whether Powell talked to Musharraf about the disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, Boucher yesterday (Apr 14, 2004) he said, "Not in particular about AQ Khan."

Powell last month conferred the status of Major Non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) ally on Pakistan triggering a sharp reaction from India.

New Delhi said the move had "significant implications" for Indo-US relations and expressed disappointment on being on being kept in the dark about the decision.