April 9, 2003	Wednesday	Safar 6, 1424

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WASHINGTON, April 8: Pakistan’s economic performance and its efforts to combat terrorism will be the focus of talks in Washington this week when two key delegations arrive here for meetings with the US and World Bank officials.

Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani arrives in Washington on Wednesday with a four-member delegation to attend the second meeting of the US-Pakistan joint working group on terrorism.

The talks are expected to revolve around Pakistan’s efforts to catch the Taliban and Al Qaeda supporters, particularly those entering the country from Afghanistan.

During the two-day — April 10 and 11 — the joint working group meeting the US delegation is expected to raise the issue of “infiltration” into Indian occupied Kashmir as well.

Besides terrorism, the US government may also urge Pakistan to increase its efforts to combat drug trafficking. US policy makers believe that some terrorist groups use drug trade to finance their activities and want to sever what they see as the main source of income for terrorists, particularly those operating from Afghanistan and the neighbouring areas of Pakistan.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz arrives in Washington on Thursday at the head of a five-member delegation to discuss the fifth review of poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) with the International Monetary Fund.

Besides Mr Aziz, the delegation includes Finance Secretary Naveed Ahsan, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ishrat Hussain.