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Musharraf for results in talks with Manmohan

Nirupama Subramanian

Also to address Global Discourse on Kashmir Musharraf and Manmohan to have "detailed discussions on a broad agenda which will include Jammu and Kashmir, the peace process and whatever else they want to talk about"

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left on Monday for Brussels en route to Havana, saying he aims to have "result-oriented" talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they meet on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Summit in the Cuban capital.

"I hope and will make an effort to make the talks substantive so that these are result-oriented," Gen. Musharraf told reporters before his departure, the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

He added that the talks with Dr. Singh carried much importance.

Pakistan has said it wants an early resumption of a dialogue, put on hold by India after the Mumbai blasts which it blamed on terrorist elements operating in Pakistan.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said the two leaders would have "detailed discussions on a broad agenda which will include Jammu and Kashmir, the peace process and whatever else they want to talk about."

Dr. Singh said in New Delhi before his departure for Brazil and Cuba that he would take up the issue of terrorism with Gen. Musharraf.

At his first stop-over in Brussels, Gen. Musharraf will address the inaugural session of a conference organised by the All-Party Group for Kashmir in the European Parliament called Global Discourse on Kashmir.

Gen. Musharraf said he looked forward to "a very substantive interaction" at the event as it would provide him an opportunity to express his views on Kashmir.

He will also address the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament, where he plans to talk about the "realities about Pakistan, its focus on counter- terrorism, extremism and also address their concerns about democracy, human rights and tell them the facts".

After the Havana Summit, Gen. Musharraf will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He will also travel to Washington DC for a meeting with U.S. President George Bush.

Mr. Bush will also interact jointly with Gen. Musharraf and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at at an Iftar party he is hosting for the two leaders.

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