ISLAMABAD, April 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Saturday discussed the impact of the Iraq war and India’s belligerent attitude towards Pakistan.

Official sources told Dawn that during the 70-minutes meeting both leaders expressed their “serious concern” over the war on Iraq and said Pakistan should continue to work closely with France, Germany Russia and China to achieve the United Nations’ centrality over Iraq crisis.

They also called for fresh efforts by the OIC and Arab League to get the Iraq war stopped.

Sources said that the prime minister briefed the president about the relief efforts undertaken by the government to help the Iraqi people. Mr Jamali said that a group of MNAs and Senators, who were medical doctors, will soon be leaving for Iraq with medicines and other relief goods.

“Both leaders discussed matters which included the threat of pre-emptive strike by India against Pakistan,” a source in the prime minister’s house said.

He told Dawn that both leaders agreed that anti-Pakistan statements by the Indian leaders were meant to win the forthcoming elections in 11 Indian states.

Sources said the president informed the prime minister about the state of preparedness of the armed forces saying that any misadventure by India would be met with full force.

The prime minister, sources said, also informed the president about his government’s development plans specially with reference to the budget 2003-04. Mr Jamali said that he had directed the authorities concerned to make available maximum funds to undertake new development projects in the provinces, Azad Kashmir, and special regions during the next financial year.

The two leaders also reviewed the Middle East situation.

Matters related to improving the quality of life of the people and good governance also came under discussion.

The prime minister on Saturday, in a separate briefing, was told about the scope and activities of National Defence College (NDC) at the PM Secretariat. Commandant NDC, Lt-Gen Javed Hasan and other senior army officers were also present.

Mr Jamali emphasized the importance of a comprehensive national security plan which was the cornerstone of national policy formation.

He directed the officials concerned to conduct regular workshops specially for politicians, private sector representatives and ambassadors designate so that consensus could be reached on national security issues.