AUSTIN: Texas Gov. Rick Perry has told former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that he hopes the strained ties between the US and Pakistan will improve.

The met Tuesday at a hotel in the Texas capital, Austin. During the meeting, the Republican governor lamented the two countries' poor relationship but did not directly criticize current US policy toward Pakistan including the White House's recent suspension of $800 million in US aid to the Pakistani military.

During a speech on Monday at Rice University, Musharraf said the decision to cut the aid could hamper anti-terror efforts.

Musharraf requested the meeting with Perry, who is considering a running for president in 2012. Musharraf said he wanted to talk about ''the Texas success story'' and to get tips on how to make an economy thrive.