ISLAMABAD, May 18: President of the Palestine National Authority Mahmoud Abbas will arrive here on Thursday (today) afternoon for consultations with the top Pakistani leadership. During his less than six hours stay in the capital, Mr Abbas, will hold formal talks with President Gen Pervez Musharraf at whose invitation he is visiting Pakistan.

At the delegation level talks at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and other senior officials will also be present.

Later, Mr Abbas, who is also the chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, will call on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The Palestinian leader’s visit to Pakistan is part of his tour of Asian countries.

In the backdrop of international community’s renewed interest in the Middle East peace process and Pakistan’s open offer to mediate on the Palestine issue, the visit acquires special significance.

“We will make proposals on how Pakistan can help in the mediation,” a senior foreign ministry official told Dawn.

All aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation and international issues of mutual interest are also expected to figure in the talks between the two sides.

Pakistan has historically stood by the people of Palestine and consistently extended unequivocal and unreserved support to the Palestinian cause, the fundamental elements of which are total withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab territories including Al-Quds and restitution of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people including their right to self-determination and an independent homeland, with Al-Quds as its capital.

Pakistan has also been extending assistance in educational and technical fields to the Palestinians.