ISLAMABAD, 24 May 2005 — US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, who arrives here today, will hold talks with top Pakistani leadership on bilateral ties besides regional and global issues. However, the focus of her discussions would be the India-Pakistan peace process.
The top US official, who arrives here two days ahead of Pakistan-India talks on Siachen to be followed by negotiations on Sir Creek, will meet President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmoud Kasuri and other top officials.
According to diplomatic sources, Rocca would discuss in detail with Pakistani officials various aspects of Pakistan, India peace process and specially the upcoming talks on Siachen and Sir Creek.
They said the Bush administration was of the strong desire that the South Asian nuclear rivals moved toward the resolution of bilateral disputes such as the row over world’s highest battlefield of Siachen and marshy land of Sir Creek.
“It is likely that Ms. Rocca will offer some fresh suggestions to Pakistani leaders that the US administration believes could help resolve the disputes between Pakistan and India that would lead to durable peace in South Asia,” sources said.
Apart from talks on the peace process, Rocca would also discuss with Musharraf and other leaders the US plans to expand trade and economic relations with Islamabad.
The Pakistani leadership would brief the US official on Islamabad’s defense needs. In this regard, the sale of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan would also be deliberated upon.
On the economic front, Pakistan is keen to get concessions from the US on market access and economic incentives including bilateral investment agreement, the sources said. All these issues would be taken up with Roca, they added. The US assistant secretary of state would also discuss the ongoing war on terror with officials here and the latest situation in Afghanistan would also be looked into, sources said.
Other issues to be discussed during the Rocca’s visit include the nuclear proliferation and US-Iran row over Tehran’s nuclear program, they added.
An official here said Pakistani authorities would also take up with the top US official the alleged desecration of the Holy Qur’an by US troops at Guantanamo Bay.
“Ms. Rocca’s visit is a follow-up of the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s regional tour, so all issues of bilateral interest will be discussed in detail by the two sides,” the official said.
Apart from government functionaries, the senior official of US State Department would also meet some important opposition leaders here and discuss with them the country’s political situation, sources said
