Musharraf due today in Washington

Published
0

WASHINGTON, Dec 2: The war on terror, Indo-Pakistani peace process and bilateral relations will be top on their agenda when US President George W. Bush and President Pervez Musharraf meet at the White House on Saturday.

Gen Musharraf is expected in the US capital on Friday for an overnight stay on his way to Europe as part of a five-nation tour including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, France and Britain. The sixth, the United States, was added on Mr Musharraf's request.

Confirming the Bush-Musharraf meeting, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said: "This will be an opportunity for the two presidents to continue discussing the war on terrorism and their long-term vision for US-Pakistan relations."

Although the announcement gave no further details of the meeting, several subjects have dominated political discussions in Washington since last week when Pakistan announced that Gen Musharraf is scheduled to meet Mr Bush on Dec 4.

The most prominent was the nuclear dispute involving Iran and Pakistan was inadvertently dragged into the discussion every time the Iranian nuclear program was discussed because of an alleged link between Tehran and the A.Q. Khan network.

The US media also pointed out that the Bush-Musharraf meeting follows moves in Islamabad for reconciliation between the government and the country's main opposition groups.

Meanwhile, the White House has indicated that the talks between the two presidents will also focus on recent measures for improving relations between South Asia's two nuclear neighbours.

Mr McClellan said the United States was also working with these two countries to 'wage and win a global war on terrorism'. In the 21st century, he said, the world faced many common security challenges and can work together to enhance security for all countries of the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Governance test
15 Aug, 2026

Governance test

EVER since the interior minister called for smaller administrative units to improve governance, the question of new...
Sailors’ killing
15 Aug, 2026

Sailors’ killing

THE killing of at least three Pakistani sailors in an apparent Houthi attack targeting a vessel in the waters of Bab...
Lethal celebrations
15 Aug, 2026

Lethal celebrations

IT is a familiar tale. Every year, occasions for national celebration turn into fear and mourning just because some...
Taliban support
Updated 14 Aug, 2026

Taliban support

THE latest UN monitoring report analysing the activities of several transnational terrorist groups is unequivocal in...
Job policy for youth
14 Aug, 2026

Job policy for youth

STRIPPED of its rhetoric, the prime minister’s announcement of Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy...
Jail improvements
14 Aug, 2026

Jail improvements

THE Punjab government is spending Rs5bn on modernising jail facilities in the province, but to what end? The...