RIYADH, June 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf had an extended meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in which all subjects of mutual interest were discussed.

Sources said that during the one-to-one meeting Pakistan-India relations and the overall situation in the Middle East came under discussion. The situation confronting the Ummah was also discussed.

Sources indicate there was complete unanimity of views on these issues.

Later, President Musharraf said that he had held talks with the Saudi leadership on the issue of militancy, the activities of Al Qaeda, the steps that Pakistan had taken to deescalate the tension in South Asia and the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

President Musharraf said that Crown Prince Abdullah and the Saudi delegation had appreciated Pakistan’s viewpoint and assured him of their full support.

Besides, addressing leading editors, columnists and intellectuals, the president said that Pakistan had full confidence in its conventional deterrence and added that only an insane person could think of the nuclear option.

He appreciated the role of the Arab world in the recent crisis and added that the growing Indo-Israel nexus was a threat to the Arab and the entire Muslim world.

Earlier, President Musharraf was accorded a warm and enthusiastic welcome when he arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday.

Although the trip was not billed as a state visit, yet Crown Prince Abdullah received President Musharraf and his entourage at the airport himself. The crown prince is deputizing for King Fahd, who is in Geneva resting these days.

Prince Sultan, the second deputy premier of the Kingdom, and Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed were also present at the airport. The presence of Prince Abdullah to receive his guest indicates the importance the Saudi authorities are giving to this visit.

Immediately after the lunch which Prince Abdullah had hosted for President Musharraf at his palace, both went into a closed door session.

The president’s delegation includes Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.