WASHINGTON, June 8: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, who arrives here on Wednesday evening, may also meet President George W. Bush during his two-day stay in the US capital, diplomatic sources told Dawn . The sources said the meeting was still being finalized.

The Pakistan Embassy in Washington said that during this visit Pakistan and the US would explore steps to further increase cooperation in social, economic and defence sectors.

Mr Kasuri is scheduled to hold talks on bilateral, regional and global issues with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Besides meeting National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Mr Kasuri will also have discussions with members of the Congress, leading think-tanks and editorial board members.

“The visit of the foreign minister underscores the strength and closeness of bilateral relations and is expected to take the process of bilateral cooperation a step further in the social sectors, and economic and defence fields,” said an official statement.

Progress in India-Pakistan dialogue, situation in Afghanistan and UN Security Council reform are also expected to figure in the discussions Mr Kasuri will have with the American leadership.

From Washington, Mr Kasuri will travel to Doha where he will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the second South-South Summit of G-77 and China, which will be held on June 15-16.

The summit meeting will be preceded by the Non-Aligned Movement ministerial meeting on June 13, which will discuss issues relating to UN reforms.