MANILA, April 18: President Pervez Musharraf arrived in the Philippines on Monday for a visit expected to focus on cooperation against Muslim militancy and the US-led war against terrorism. He flew into Manila after a trip to India in which the two South Asian nuclear rivals took significant steps to improve relations. He will meet President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the first time at a brief one-to-one session on Tuesday before addressing a joint session of parliament.

“As regional leaders in the global fight against terrorism, they are expected to discuss how to expand counter-terrorism cooperation,” the Philippine government said in a statement.

The agenda is also likely to include ways to promote dialogue among religious faiths and the progress of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the heavily Christian Philippines.

Presidents Musharraf and Arroyo are allies to the United States in the war on terror as they battle insurgencies by Islamic militants.

Filipino rebels have trained in Pakistan in the past and security experts say the southern Philippines is a haven for militants of various nationalities.

Hashim Salamat, the late founder of the MILF, lived in Pakistan for several years.

“Pakistan is one of the major problems for the Philippines,” said a former intelligence official who asked not to be named.

“Pakistan was an arms supplier to the Muslim rebels while at the same time selling weapons to the Philippines government,” he said and added: “The Philippines should be cautious in dealing with Pakistan, based on past experiences.”

The Philippine government said it expects agreements to be signed that will cover anti-terrorism cooperation, extradition, consular services and setting up of a joint business council.

On Wednesday, President Musharraf will speak at a forum for foreign media and meet members of the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry before flying to Indonesia for the 50th anniversary of the Asian-African Summit, which President Arroyo will also attend.

President Musharraf is the fourth Pakistani leader to visit the Philippines since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1949. The last state visit to Pakistan by a Philippine leader was made by the then president Fidel Ramos in 1997. —-Reuters