NEW YORK, Nov 8: To avoid meeting President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has decided not to attend a luncheon being hosted by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the heads of state and government on Nov 10.

A UN official told Dawnthat Mr Vajpayee had declined Mr Annan’s invitation.

An official at the Indian mission to the United Nations also told Dawn that Mr Vajpayee would not be attending the luncheon. However, he declined to give reasons for this.

According to the seating arrangement, US President Bush and President Musharraf would sit at the head of the luncheon table with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Annan, sources said.

Mr Vajpayee could have found himself sitting next to President Musharraf, if he attended the luncheon, the sources added.

The Indian leader will be visiting Washington at the invitation of President Bush on Nov 9 before coming to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.

He is expected to address the general assembly following President Musharraf’s speech.