Pakistani Foreign Minister in Malta

Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khurshid M. Kasuri arrived in Malta yesterday and holds talks with his Maltese counterpart, Michael Frendo, this morning.

Before meeting Dr Frendo Mr Kasuri will call on Ambassador Salv. Stellini, the chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and President Eddie Fenech Adami.

Pakistan's membership of the Commonwealth was suspended in the aftermath of a bloodless military coup in October 1999 which saw General Pervez Musharraf take power and assume the presidency in June 2001.

The suspension was lifted last year in view of the progress made by the country in returning to democracy. Legislative elections were held in 2002 and President Musharraf appointed a Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, to run the country's day-to-day affairs. The military, however, still has a very large say in running the country.

Pakistan is a key ally of the West in the war against al Qaeda and Islamic extremism and its re-entry into the Commonwealth last year was also a way of rewarding the country for its strong stand against terrorism.

Although Pakistan will be attending this November's CHOGM in Malta the summit's invitation has been sent to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and not to President Pervez Musharraf.

A joint press conference will be held by Dr Frendo and Mr Kasuri after their meeting this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Kasuri was appointed Pakistan's Foreign Minister in 2002.