President Bush has met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf at the White House to discuss a wide range of international and regional issues.
The two leaders told a joint news conference that the talks were candid and reinforced trust and confidence in each other.
President Musharraf said both Washington and Islamabad are on a joint hunt for Osama bin Laden, and that there is no need for publicly discussing the strategy and the tactics of the hunt.
President Bush said he had a very good and candid discussion with the general and that he admires his courage. He said the Pakistani leader has been a target of extremists and terrorists because he is a strong and moderate leader.
General Musharraf said President Bush has the will and desire to resolve the Palestinian problem, which he said is at the heart of international terrorism.
The two men also discussed Pakistan's relations with neighboring India and Afghanistan. General Musharraf said he also explained the recent truce that the Pakistani military reached with pro-Taleban militants in the semi-autonomous tribal regions of Pakistan.
Mr. Bush said the Pakistani leader assured him he will hold free and fair elections.
