NEWS

Musharraf will not meet Sharif

November 21, 2007 11:35 IST

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, will not meet opposition leader in exile Nawaz Sharif, it was officially announced in Riyadh.

Pakistan Consulate's Jameel Khan said General Musharraf will be going to Mecca with the purpose of performing Umrah. He ruled out speculations that the president would meet Nawaz Sharif.

Custodian of the two holy mosques King Abdullah held talks with Musharraf at Al-Yamamah Palace on Tuesday, soon after his arrival.

Musharraf arrived in Riyadh earlier in the day on his first official trip abroad since declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan on November 3.

"It was a personal visit and the two heads of state had a one to one meeting for more than two hours," Pakistan's Ambassador Shahid Karimullah told Arab News, adding that the meeting was preceded by a half-hour meeting in the presence of Prince Saud and Prince Muqrin.

According to sources, besides the current issues in Pakistan, the two leaders discussed matters of bilateral interests, and regional and international issues concerning the two countries.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have traditionally maintained strong relations and they, along with UAE were the only countries to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan when the Pakistan supported student militia usurped power years ago.

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