ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: President Asif Zardari is likely to meet US President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden during his trip to the United States next week to attend an inter-faith conference.

A request for the meeting had been forwarded to the president-elect’s transition team, a source in the Foreign Office told Dawn on Friday.

President Zardari will leave Islamabad on Tuesday for the conference to be held in New York on November 13 and 14. “Tentatively President Zardari is to return home on November 14, but he may extend the visit by a day or two,” the source said.

Although, Mr Obama is preoccupied these days with transition arrangements, the Foreign Office is hopeful of securing an appointment.

According to Mr Zardari’s initial itinerary, he was to visit only New York, but now he is expected to travel to Washington and Chicago to meet Mr Obama and Mr Biden.

It is learnt that Mr Zardari intends to use the opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s resolve to deal with the menace of terrorism on its own.

The president also wishes to discuss the Kashmir issue with Mr Obama who during his campaign had indicated that he would work with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the problem.

Mr Obama has also indicated that he may appoint former US president Bill Clinton as his special envoy on Kashmir.

The president also intends to discuss with Mr Obama and Mr Biden the fast deteriorating economic situation of Pakistan and pursue the Biden-Lugar aid plan which calls for a $1.5 billion annual non-military spending to support Pakistan’s economic development.

President Zardari had awarded late last month ‘Hilal-i-Pakistan’ Medal to Senator Biden and Senator Lugar in recognition of their consistent support for Pakistan.