KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: President General Pervez Musharraf has vowed to continue supporting the Palestinians in their quest for an independent homeland. President Musharraf, after his arrival here on a two-day visit, said in a statement that Islamabad’s contact with Israel at the ministerial level would not be at the expense of its support for the Palestinians.

The president said his visit was aimed at boosting bilateral relations between Kuwait and Pakistan, particularly at the political level.

“We will seek to cement these ties further at the economic and commercial levels,” the president added.

The president said his talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah would focus on regional and international affairs as well as coordination in the fight against terrorism.

The president is scheduled to address the Kuwaiti business community on Sunday.

Agencies add: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Saba al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah on Satruday shared a firm resolve to further strengthen economic ties and discussed ways to enhance solidarity among Muslim countries for turning the OIC into a dynamic organization.

The talks covered a host of regional and international issues of common concern, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan-India peace process for the resolution of Kashmir and other disputes.

Prime Minister Sabah expressed deep sorrow and grief over colossal loss of lives in the Oct 8 earthquake.

President Musharraf thanked the host leader for Kuwait’s response to the natural calamity and briefed him about the reconstruction and rehabilitation plans in the quake-hit areas.

The Pakistani side included Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Muhammad Naseer Mengal and the foreign secretary.

Gen Musharraf underscored that his vision of enlightened moderation offered a way forward and added that under this two-pronged strategy, the Muslim world should reject extremism on its fringes and go for socio-economic development of their people.

The two sides also discussed financing of various uplift projects in Pakistan.

They also discussed streamlining of visas for Pakistani workers in the Gulf country.

FINANCE MINISTER: Finance Minister Bader Mshari Al Humaithi called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest as well as bilateral trade and economic ties.

The minister, accompanied by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Director-General Abdel Wahab Al Bader, held the meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf at Bayan Palace on Saturday.

Earlier, the president was received by the Kuwaiti government representatives and embassy officials of the two countries.

In reply to a question of reporters at the airport, Gen Musharraf confirmed the killing of the field commander of operations of the Al-Qaeda organization, Hamza Rabeea. “This news is 100 per cent confirmed,” he added.