Date:26/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/26/stories/2004112603331400.htm

International

Musharraf to meet Bush in December

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 25. The Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, would visit the U.S. early next month for a meeting with his counterpart, George W. Bush. He will make a stopover there during his visit to the Latin American and European states.

The Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri, told a news conference here along with the visiting Bangladeshi Foreign Minister that the meeting between Gen. Musharraf and the U.S. President was important, being the first after the re-election of Mr. Bush.

Pakistan has a lot of expectations from Washington during the second stint of Mr. Bush. It wants defence cooperation to be stepped up substantially and is seeking F-16 aircraft.

Islamabad has been pressing Washington for sophisticated military equipment to enable it fight terrorism with particular reference to the Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants operating in the tribal belt neighbouring Afghanistan.