A U-S official says Secretary of State Colin Powell has telephoned Pakistan's military leader Pervez Musharraf to discuss Islamabad's offer to cooperate with the investigation into Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the United States.
A U-S official characterized the conversation as "positive" and said General Musharraf made a general commitment to do things along the lines requested by the United States.
The U-S official said the General said his government looks forward to receiving a list of things the United States wants Pakistan to do.
Secretary Powell said at an earlier news conference that would include such things as help in identifying terrorist networks and those who support them.
The telephone conversation comes hours after President Bush said he intends to give Pakistan every opportunity to follow through on its offer of help.
The President was refering to General Musharraf's remarks earlier today, when he said he is ready to give what he called his unstinted support in the fight against terrorism. He said the carnage in New York and Washington has raised the need for the anti-terrorism struggle to a new level, which demands that all countries must cooperate.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage also met with visiting Pakistani officials today to outline the steps Washington expects Pakistan to take to support US efforts.
The Pakistani delegation included Pakistan's (Inter-services) intelligence chief Lieutenant General Mahmood Ahmed and Pakistan's ambassador to Washington, Maleeha Lodi. The two met with Mr. Armitage on Wednesday also.
Pakistan is one of only a few countries that recognize Afghanistan's Taleban leadership, which shelters accused terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. The U-S government has charged the exiled Saudi dissident in connection with past terrorist attacks against the United States, and he is widely suspected of involvement in Tuesday's attacks in New York and Washington.