WASHINGTON, Sept 14: US President George W. Bush will launch a major diplomatic offensive to redress Afghanistan’s woes later this month when he will hold separate talks with the Afghan and Pakistani presidents and a possible tripartite meeting later to jointly review the proposals discussed separately, it is learnt.

The White House on Thursday confirmed that President Bush would meet President Pervez Musharraf on Sept 22 and President Hamid Karzai on Sept 26.

There was no official US announcement about the joint meeting but officials in Kabul and Islamabad have confirmed that the three leaders will meet on Sept 27 at an Iftar President Bush will host.

Before leaving home on almost a month-long visit to the West, President Musharraf told reporters in Islamabad earlier this week that the Iftar party had “its own significance of resolving problems and misunderstandings between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Gen Musharraf is expected to return to New York after his meeting with Mr Bush and may come back to Washington for the tripartite meeting. President Bush will be in New York from Sept 18 to 20 to attend the 61st UN General Assembly.

There’s a general feeling here that the Bush administration underestimated the strength of the Taliban. Such feelings have intensified after the assassination of an Afghan governor last week and after a series of fresh attacks on US and Nato troops in Afghanistan.

In discussions at Washington think-tanks some US experts have emphasised the need for winning over moderate Taliban and giving them a place in the country’s power structure.

The White House announcement about President Bush’s meeting with President Musharraf contained a long list of subjects the two leaders are expected to review.

“They will review developments across the spectrum of our strategic partnership, including progress in bilateral cooperation in energy, education, science and technology, economic development, counterterrorism, and advancing freedom and democracy,” the White House said.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Mr Bush would congratulate Mr Karzai on Afghanistan’s progress over the past five years and reaffirm Washington’s commitment to helping the country rebuild.