U.S. Sen. Kerry visits Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., met with Pakistani leaders Monday to discuss aid to the country, officials said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told Kerry that Pakistan doesn't want the United States to base aid considerations on a campaign against militants, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he urged quick passage of a bill on reconstruction in Pakistan and work out a strategy to terrorism, the newspaper said. Working its way through the U.S. Congress is a bill that would triple economic assistance for Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year.

Kerry's visit comes one week after Pakistani leaders met with U.S Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Richard Holbrooke, the administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.