RIYADH, 26 June 2005 — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrived in the Saudi capital yesterday on a one-day visit to meet Saudi leaders and discuss issues of mutual interest. He was received at the Riyadh Air Base by Crown Prince Abdullah, Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Prince Sattam, deputy governor of Riyadh, as well as other Saudi ministers and officials.
One topic for discussion was the reconstruction of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), according to the president’s press secretary, Gen. Shaukat Sultan. The president, he said, would not be discussing the issue of Pakistan seeking a seat on the UN Security Council. Regarding Saudis being detained in Pakistan on terror charges and cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terror, he said both countries were members of the international coalition on the war on terror.
As for Bin Laden’s whereabouts and whether he was still in Pakistan, the press secretary said, “No one is ever sure where Bin Laden is. The president has always said that he could be in the border region. He has always said that if someone knows where Bin Laden is, he should come and tell us. As per our information, he is not there. If he were in Pakistan, he would have been caught by now.”
Regarding terrorist activities in Pakistan and the measures taken to thwart attacks, the press secretary said: “Since the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz last year, there has been no Al-Qaeda-related terrorist activity in Pakistan.” He said whatever attacks have occurred since then in the country have been domestic rather than international.
He said strong measures had been taken by the Pakistani government to prevent terrorists from entering the country, including “strict immigration procedures and a computerized registration and passport system.”
Gen. Sultan said the Pakistani president had also discussed with Saudi leaders trade opportunities between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. “Pakistan has had phenomenal economic growth this year. It is the second highest economic growth after China — 8.3 percent. It offers big opportunities for investors from Saudi Arabia to come and invest there.”
The general pointed out, “Pakistan is a moderate society. There is no place for radicalism and extremism in Pakistan. And we hope that the next elections will prove that radicals have no place in Pakistani politics,” he said.
The press secretary said President Musharraf also discussed the issue of Kashmir with the crown prince. “Pakistan would like to see the solution of the Kashmir problem through peaceful negotiations, of course, within the parameters of Security Council resolutions.
Later, the president arrived in Jeddah where he was received by Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, governor of Jeddah. He performed Umrah and is scheduled to leave for Madinah today to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.
