ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Monday that Washington was absolutely convinced that Islamabad’s security and military apparatus was 200 per cent behind President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

“In no way do I have any sign that those running the security forces as institutions are anything but 200 per cent behind the nation and behind the President (Gen Pervez Musharraf),” Mr Armitage said during a brief talk with journalists after a working lunch with Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri at the Foreign Office here.

The US deputy secretary of state’s comments came in response to a couple of questions on his last week’s statement that he was not sure if the whole rank and file of the Pakistan security services were cooperating in the US-led anti-Al Qaeda campaign in the tribal areas.

Asked whether this statement amounted to saying that President Pervez Musharraf as the Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army did not have full control over his troops, he said: “There is no question in my mind about the total sincerity of the efforts put forth by Gen Musharraf. I said there was some question of some individuals in the security services who might not have the same affection, that is the same energy and the same regard, for the efforts of President Musharraf.”

When it was pointed out that his latest statement was in sharp contrast to the doubts he expressed last week and what made him change his position, he reiterated: “I say there is no question in my mind and I don’t think in anybody’s mind in Washington that the institutions are firmly behind the president and the nation, and as I said 200 per cent.”

Dilating on the same subject, Mr Armitage stated: “I said in Washington last week that there seem to be some individuals who did not share the same affection and let me reiterate I mean the same amount.” However, he hastened to add: “But in terms of institutions we are absolutely convinced all the institutions, military or security, are behind the President (Musharraf).”

To a question on the Kashmir and the peace process between Pakistan and India, he said discussions on Kashmir continued to be high on the agenda, adding that the issue was also high on the agenda during the recent UN General Assembly session.

The US deputy secretary of state said he held “very good discussions” with President Musharraf and the foreign minister on this issue.

“From Washington’s perspective the issue of Kashmir is one that has to be resolved through dialogue. We continue to seek its resolution through discussions,” he maintained.

When his attention was drawn to the ‘Glide Path’ security programme entailing nuclear, missile and space technology development that the US and India had agreed to jointly pursue, he promptly clarified that it was a “civilian nuclear cooperation.”

On Pakistan’s concern about its implications on the security of the region given that the conventional arms balance was already in favour of India, Mr Armitage said: “As I assured our friends here in Pakistan and last month in New York to our colleagues that anything we did that affects Pakistan we are extraordinarily sensitive to.”

In this context he emphasized that Washington was fully mindful of the “sensitivities of feelings” in Pakistan. “We do not feel that we are engaging in anything that will disrupt the status quo where it is detrimental to Pakistan,” was his clear message.

On the question of US compensation for families of the two Pakistani soldiers killed by the American forces along the Pakistan-Afghan border a few weeks ago, Mr Armitage said: “I know the compensation discussions are going on.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, who flew in from New York on Sunday night, made a brief opening statement. He characterized Pakistan’s relationship with the US as “robust and long-term” which, he said, was evident by the frequent high-level contacts between the two countries. He termed the visit of Mr Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary for South Asia Ms Christina Rocca “very successful.”

The foreign minister said he had “an in-depth interaction” with the US officials on bilateral relations, regional situation, Afghanistan and war on terrorism.

“Both sides expressed hope for continuation of the engagement between Pakistan and the United States.”

Reciprocating Mr Kasuri’s sentiments, Mr Armitage said: “This is a special relationship to the United States, one that President Bush treasures particularly.”

Mr Armitage made it clear that Washington was interested in a relationship with Pakistan that was not merely based on global war on terror but one that covered the entire gamut: economic, social and political.

He said he had engaged in discussions with officials here following up on his trip to Kandahar and Kabul the other day.

“We shared with president and foreign minister our impressions of Afghanistan and were able to have in-depth discussions with President Musharraf,” Mr Armitage told journalists.

He said he was “quite thrilled” with the discussions with President Musharraf earlier in the morning.

US Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell also accompanied Mr Armitage.

Richard Armitage later called on the defence secretary.

The US deputy secretary of state arrived here on Sunday night after a day-long trip to Afghanistan. He was scheduled to leave Pakistan on Monday night.