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WASHINGTON, Thursday (AFP) A top economic official in Pakistan's embassy here pressed the United States Wednesday to boost trade ties, noting his country's support in the US-led campaign against terrorism.

The United States had provided only limited market access to Pakistani textile exports, the embassy official, Mushtaq Malik, told reporters.

"People back home had a lot of expectations from the United States, our friends. Pakistan offered ourselves as a frontline state," Malik said.

"We are extremely disappointed by the United States."

Malik said Pakistan was prepared to offer reciprocal zero percent tariffs on US textile exports.

A Pakistani request to form a free trade agreement with the United States was still pending, he said, noting that Washington was close to sealing such agreements with Singapore and South Africa.

"What is the criteria, what is the basis of entering into agreement with those particular counties? If Pakistan, which is such a close ally during these turmoils, why not to assist their economy entering into this kind of agreement?" he said.

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