November 21, 2003	Friday	Ramazan 25, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: Pakistani envoys serving in key world capitals will be arriving here on Friday for a special consultation session convened over the weekend by the foreign ministry, Dawn learnt through knowledgeable sources.

Envoys who have been called for consultations include ambassador to the US, Mr Ashraf Jehangir Qazi; permanent representative to the UN in New York, Mr Munir Akram; high commissioner to the UK, Dr Maleeha Lodhi; ambassador to China, Mr Riaz Mohammad Khan and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Mr Shaukat Umer.

“There is no fixed agenda, the meeting has been convened to discuss a range of important issues,” a foreign ministry source told Dawn on Thursday.

According to informed sources, the foreign office has planned consultations on key foreign policy areas, including Iraq and nuclear non-proliferation. In recent weeks numerous pieces alleging Pakistan’s help to Iran developing its nuclear programme have appeared in the US and British press.

US non-proliferation experts have consistently kept the pressure on Pakistan alleging that Pakistan has provided support to North Korea and now to Iran.

Sources said the issue of alleged bugging of Pakistan’s high commission in London and the unrelenting attitude of the British government on this matter would also figure in the meeting.

A foreign ministry official said the meeting had been called to review the recent global developments, noting that it has been a very active international situation. “Since it is the year-end the main objective would be stock-taking and planning for the next year,” the official added.