Pakistan will seek cooperation in the civilian nuclear field in line with India during the talks between President Pervez Musharraf and United States President George W Bush next week. The fight against terrorism and the Indo-Pak peace process will also figure in their parleys.
Bush will be flying to Islamabad on March 4, after a three-day India tour. On Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said it would be a two-day visit and, due to security reasons, she would not give details of his arrival and departure.
She said Pakistan will address the civilian nuclear cooperation, which was being discussed between India and US
officials to finalise an agreement before Bush's arrival.
Bush, in his recent interviews to Pakistani journalists, had cautioned patience as India and US were breaking new
ground.
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Complete coverage: The Indo-US nuclear tango
"The visit underscores strong relations between Pakistan and US and will focus on broadening and deepening
bilateral cooperation in diverse fields," Aslam told reporters.
Bush will hold talks with Musharraf during his two-day stay in Islamabad. He will also attend an event related to earthquake assistance, besides meeting representatives of Pakistan's public and private sectors.
The two presidents will also have a joint press conference, while Musharraf will host a banquet in honour of Bush, Aslam said.
Bush is also expected to go to Lahore to watch a cricket match and take part in a kite-flying competition.
Asked about Bush's comments to Indian television that he would discuss dismantling of terrorist camps and infrastructure, Aslam said the President has not made any reference to camps and claimed the interview was 'distorted'. President Bush made no reference to training camps, she said.
Aslam also commented on Bush's reference to Kashmir in his recent speech at the Asia Society in Washington, calling for a solution acceptable to all parties. She said Islamabad encourages and appreciates the international community's engagement with Pakistan and India with regard to the lingering Kashmir issue.
"The US has been in a way engaged in the process," she said and said Bush's remarks 'clearly spells out the US policy direction'.
Pakistan leadership would brief the US President on the status of ongoing dialogue at various levels between Pakistan and India, she said.
Complete coverage: Bush's visit to India
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