ISLAMABAD President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday Pakistan would send about 300 troops to Lebanon to clear anti-personnel mines laid during the country's strife.

"We have already reached an agreement on demining operations to demine areas around Beirut and Southern Lebanon, and about 300 troops will be sent to Lebanon, as soon as possible," the official APP news agency quoted him as saying after talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

The battle-scarred Middle Eastern country was mired in a 15-year civil war which ended in 1990, while Israeli troops had occupied Southern Lebanon for 22 years until May last year. The southern area is now in the hands of Hizbollah guerrillas, Reuters reported.

The agency said Musharraf and Hariri agreed to expand ties in the areas of trade, commerce, defence training and diplomacy.

"We accept increased collaboration in defense field and training areas," Musharraf said. "We have identified areas to increase collaboration in commercial and trade areas and we need to identify further mutual collaboration."

APP also quoted Hariri as telling reporters before leaving for home after his two-day visit that Pakistan agreed to receive 12 Lebanese officers annually for training at its military institutions compared to between five and eight previously.

Hariri said ministers from both countries would exchange visits to strengthen economic and commercial relations and "find the best way that Pakistan can benefit from Lebanon's position as a commercial hub of Arab world and Europe".

"We are facing similar challenges and the president has said that Pakistan stands by the Arab world and its causes, and we stand by Pakistan as well," APP quoted Hariri as saying.