MUSHARRAF STARTS A FOUR-NATION TOUR

MUSHARRAF STARTS A FOUR-NATION TOUR ISLAMABAD, MARCH 27 (KUNA) -- PAKISTAN'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF STARTED ON MONDAY A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, INDONESIA AND BRUNEI IN A BID TO STRENGTHEN ITS ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THESE COUNTRIES.
A FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIAL TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE MUSHARRAF WILL APPRISE THE LEADERS OF THE PREVALENT SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH ASIA AND ON THE NEED FOR AN EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE FESTERING ISSUE OF KASHMIR. HE WILL ALSO SEEK SUPPORT OF THESE COUNTRIES FOR PAKISTAN'S FULL DIALOGUE PARTNERSHIP OF ASEAN AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF).
HE SAID THAT MUSHARRAF'S VISIT IS IN PURSUIT OF PAKISTAN'S "LOOK EAST POLICY" WHICH IS MEANT TO ENHANCE ITS BILATERAL, ECONOMIC, TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS WITH THESE COUNTRIES.
IN MALAYSIA, HIS FIRST STOP, MUSHARRAF WILL HAVE TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MUHAMMAD AND MEET WITH MALAYSIAN INVESTORS AND BUSINESSMEN.
IN SINGAPORE HE WILL HOLD TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG AND IN INDONESIA TWO MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING ON ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION WILL BE SIGNED.
SINCE SEIZING POWER IN A MILITARY COUP IN OCTOBER, MUSHARRAF HAS VISITED SAUDI ARABIA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, KUWAIT, QATAR, TURKEY, BAHRAIN, IRAN AND CHINA. (END) SA.BK KUNA 270938 Mar 00NNNN