June 11, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 10: President Pervez Musharraf will embark on one-day visit of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, to discuss among other things, the possibility of deployment of Pakistan troops in Saudi Arabia.

Official sources confirmed that President Pervez Musharraf would finalise the proposal of Pakistani troops’ deployment in the holy lands which was under discussion at highest levels between the two governments for quite some time.

After the decision of the US government to withdraw its forces from Saudi Arabia, it was felt by the Saudi government that Pakistan should be asked to send its troops to guard the holy places.

The sources said that Pakistan troops would be in greater number this time as compared to the previous deployment.

President Musharraf was originally scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on May 28 but the visit was called off at the last moment, as Crown Prince Abdullah was out of country.

An announcement by Foreign Office on Tuesday said that President Pervez Musharraf would pay a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia on June 11, to meet the Saudi leadership and express Pakistan’s support and solidarity with the Saudi people.

The official announcement said that the president would also convey condolences on the reprehensible incidents of terrorism which led to tragic loss of precious lives in the kingdom.

The president will exchange views with the Saudi leadership on bilateral relations and on the global and regional situation.

The president will also perform Umra during his stay in Saudi Arabia.