President Musharraf on a visit to Arab capitals

Islamabad, Jan 20: Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has described the Palestinian issue as the 'core dispute in West Asia' but says it can be resolved through joint efforts by the Islamic world.

General Musharraf was talking to reporters here today before embarking on a visit to four Arab capitals neighbouring Palestine.

He will visit Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Syria and meet top leaders of these countries in a bid to find solutions for the settlement of the Palestinian problem and resolution of the West Asian crisis.

Mr Musharraf said the main objective of his visit to these Arab countries is to explore possibilities of new initiatives for resolving the Palestine dispute.

''West Asia and the Muslim world have been in turmoil for the last seven months and I will discuss with the leaders of the Arab countries how to bring about harmony in the Islamic world,'' he said.

He maintained that Pakistan wanted to bring peace in the Muslim world and his visit to the five Arab countries was to exchange views with their leaders and to find a strategy to address some of the dangers confronting the Muslim World.

About his telephone conversation with Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr Musharraf said he had informed about his forthcoming visit to exchange views with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

He said he also discussed with the Iranian President the deteriorating situation in West Asia, in particular Palestine, and the need for fresh efforts to push for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue.

Mr Musharraf is also scheduled to visit the UAE on the conclusion of his four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

UNI