Sharif, in a meeting here with US Ambassador William B Milam, said his talks with Clinton, senior US officials and Congressmen would be wide-ranging, according to an official release.

Media reports claimed the Kashmir dispute will ``unprecedentedly come under spotlight'' as one official was quoted as saying that ``the problem was immensely highlighted'' due to the nuclearisation of South Asia in May this year. ``This campaign will get a fillip during Sharif's meetings in US,'' reports said.

Besides Kashmir, diplomatic sources said, the issue of nuclear non-proliferation and F-16 fighter planes would also figure during the talks.

Pakistan has, in recent weeks, renewed its campaign for the need of outside involvement in the Kashmir issue after a fresh round of Indo-Pak talks failed to bring about a breakthrough.

PakistaniForeign Minister Sartaj Aziz said earlier that major powers ``should closely monitor the Indo-Pak dialogue'' to ensure that progress was made.

Sharif also held an hour-long one-to-one meeting with the army chief, General Pervez Musharraf, on Tuesday which involved ``strategic consultations'' on issues such as US sanctions on military purchases, reports said.

Sharif's Washington visit comes in the wake of a series of bilateral meetings between the two countries on non-proliferation issues and amid rumours that he will make clear Pakistan's stand on the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Pakistan urgently needs a rescue package for its battered economy.

The US recently lifted some of the economic sanctions imposed after the nuclear tests. However, the sanctions on military purchases are still in place. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has arrived to negotiate the bailout package with Pakistani officials.

Pakistan has also criticised the US decision to restrict exports of somePakistani companies and institutions under the Glenn Amendment, terming it ``unjustified and an infringement of norms of free trade which is being promoted under the WTO regime.''

Stressing that the list included firms and institutions engaged in ``legitimate activities'' in the industrial, agricultural, research, education, health, economic and trade sectors, the Pakistani foreign office expressed the hope that the United States government would review its action and avoid steps ``harmful to the development activities in the country''.

The foreign office also said that Pakistan ``remained firmly opposed'' to ``discriminatory US sanctions which contribute to the continuation of coercion and pressure''. Sharif, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September, had declared that Pakistan was ready to adhere to the CTBT but that the atmosphere of ``coercion'' first had to be removed.