NEW YORK, Dec 17: US Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Pakistan, Afghanistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, beginning on Saturday, his office announced on Friday.
Mr Cheney will represent the United States at the opening session of Afghanistan’s parliament and assess reconstruction efforts in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan during a five-country trip.
In Pakistan, Mr Cheney plans to meet President Pervez Musharraf whom the United States considers a key ally in the fight against terrorism, the statement said.
“President Bush has asked the vice president to stop in Pakistan as well to assess ongoing US relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of October’s devastating earthquake,” the statement said.
Mr Cheney will meet the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman to discuss “key issues of mutual concern relating to President Bush’s freedom agenda and the war on terror,” it said.
The vice president will hold talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman on the war on terror and President Bush’s goal of expanding freedom around the world, it added.
