ISLAMABAD, 8 November 2006 — Richard A. Boucher, the US point man to South Asia who arrived in the Pakistan capital on Monday evening, held a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf and is set to hold meetings today with the leaders of the opposition including the PPP’s Senior Vice Chairman Makhdum Amin Fahim and Deputy Chairman of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif Group) Zafar Iqbal Jhagra.

Boucher earlier held a meeting with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri at the the Foreign Office. He discussed the regional security situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s fresh initiatives to neutralize the Taleban and related regional matters.

During a meeting with some senior Islamabad journalists Richard Boucher said that “militants were getting training at ‘Khar madrasa’” and endorsed Pakistan Army's action.

He added that the US and Pakistan would promote bilateral trade and relations in commerce, investment and nonnuclear energy. He said that cooperation with Pakistan regarding rehabilitation of Afghanistan, joint efforts to combat terrorism, regional cooperation will continue even if the Democrats get the majority.

Commenting on the Pakistan-Iran oil pipeline project, Richard Boucher said, “It’s a non-vibrant project.” He however suggested that Pakistan should develop energy pipeline projects with Central Asian Republics.

Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan spokeswoman for the Foreign Office, during a routine briefing told journalists, “Border fencing between Pakistan and Afghanistan is an important issue that is being considered seriously.” But she denied Kabul’s recent allegations that in the absence of border fencing Pakistan was supporting the Taleban’s cross border movements.

President Karzai had opposed the idea of border fencing and mining of those spots where it is suspected the Taleban’s frequently cross over to Afghanistan and Pakistan arguing that it would divide many families which meet regularly. Meanwhile according to the latest details available at the Foreign Office, Kabul is not in favor of border fencing.

Border fencing with Afghanistan is a difficult but possible task said Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani. He added, “We do not feel like being accused of supporting militant Taleban’s.”

Commenting on the Saddam verdict, she said, “It’s a legal matter. Saddam Hussain has yet to file an appeal.”

Though an official statement from the President House relating to the Boucher-Musharraf meeting has still not been issued, it has been learnt that the US official took up numerous issues with Pakistan’s head of State. These issues include the situation in Afghanistan, progress on the US-Pak recently constituted Strategic Group and its further progress, the Indo-Pak relationship and other related matters.

The US assistant secretary of state for South Asia and Central Asian Affairs was in Islamabad during April when he told journalists here, “The US wants to see civilian supremacy over the armed forces.” Now he is in the region while the Bush Administration is facing a mid-term election and is no more popular to carry forward its worldwide policies forcefully.

During Boucher’s April meeting, he held meetings with the leaders of the opposition parties. The US Embassy in Islamabad Tuesday hosted a lunch for the opposition leadership to provide Richard Boucher with an opportunity to hear the views of the Combined Opposition particularly in the wake of the missile strike in Chingai by US forces.

Meanwhile President General Pervez Musharraf is holding a meeting with Corps Commanders at the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi to review the post “Khar Attack” situation in Pakistan. The attack has been widely condemned by all segments of Pakistan society and protested against. Different political parties and various lawyer and journalist associations have continued protesting at a small level against the killing even on Tuesday.

Another important US official is Nicholas Burns, who was to visit Pakistan and India. Burns only visited New Delhi and never came to Pakistan, something that irritated policy planners at the Foreign Office and in other organizations.

Officials say that the current visit of Richard Boucher is primarily meant to review progress on the “US-Pak Strategic Dialogue Process” which envisages: establishment and implementation of strong financial controls that can defend illicit finance; facilitate Pakistan's Economic Growth through increased trade and investment links with the United States and within the region and global economy, including through an enhanced economic dialogue encompassing bilateral cooperation for Pakistan's economic development ,regional economic cooperation and global economy and; the United States will provide financial support for the establishment of a Center of entrepreneurship in Pakistan under the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative.

The center will promote entrepreneurial training and give opportunities to develop skills to young women and men in order for them to launch business initiatives that would generate employment opportunities.

In peace and security the two countries had agreed to continue their close cooperation in their joint effort to curb global terrorism, continue their joint military exercises, work for peace and security in South Asia and continue with Pakistan's right to procure military hardware from the United States. But the US has so far denied Pakistan any nuclear cooperation.

Richard Boucher time and again reiterated restoration of democracy in Pakistan and next general election in 2007 in a free and fair manner. His views about Musharraf holding two offices, Presidency and Chief of the Army Staff “remained Pakistan's internal matter.”

Meanwhile the US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan Crocker, a specialist in security matters who earlier served in Syria before coming to Pakistan, will replace an Afghan origin US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad shortly. This too reflects a little change in US policy to Pakistan and Iraq.

President Musharraf’s close aides are now selling a new theory. “If elections are held in 2007, the majority of Islamist parties would return.” This trick is perhaps meant to muster the West's support for Musharraf as the military president and ceremonial role for the Parliament. Musharraf could not help Bush during the US mid-term election by producing some new footage of Osama Bin Laden or his number two Dr. Ayman Zawahiri. Even the Khar attack was meant to prove that the region had the presence of Zawahiri.

In another important development yesterday, A.K. Dogar the lawyer representing Shahbaz Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab and an important leader of PML (N), moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan for the return of Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan to participate in the next general election.

Earlier, the top court of Pakistan had given permission to Shahbaz Sharif to enter Pakistan but he was forcibly sent back to the Kingdom by the government.

“We will send Mian Nawaz Sharif or Mian Sheba Sharif back if they take any flight to Pakistan,” commented Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, the federal minister for Railways. He said that Nawaz Sharif had signed an agreement with government of Pakistan that he would abstain from participating in Pakistan's politics for 10 years.

In yet another important development two rockets were fired at a public meeting in the tribal region of Wana where governor of NWFP Lt. Gen. Aurakzai was to address. No casualties were reported so far. The Frontier Corps has further beefed up security arrangements in South Waziristan. Authorities said soon after that rockets had been fired from near the Wana Airport, Gov. Ali Jan Aurakzai left the agency for Peshawar.