Musharraf's two roles on PM's agenda

Prime Minister Helen Clark will raise Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's dual role as head of state and chief of the Army during his historic visit this week.

It is the first bilateral visit by a Pakistani President, and Foreign Affairs officials say the 55-strong delegation, which includes the President's wife, Sehba, will be surrounded by heavier security than usual.

A close ally of the United States in the war on terror, President Musharraf will have talks with Helen Clark in Auckland on Friday after meeting Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright.

The Prime Minister yesterday confirmed she would raise his continuing dual roles as head of state and Army chief, which has caused concern among Commonwealth leaders.

The 1999 coup led to Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth, but it was readmitted in May last year when President Musharraf said he would relinquish his role as chief of Army staff from last December.

But he has not stepped aside and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon told the Herald there was "clear concern, even some close to annoyance" that he had reversed his position and continued to cling to both roles.

Pakistan will be on the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta in November - considered to be a mark against it. But Helen Clark was using careful language yesterday.

She noted Pakistan's reinstatement to the Commonwealth last year and said she raised the issue during her visit last year to India.

"I came away ... with a very clear impression that India would certainly not be taking any steps or exerting any pressure to have the Commonwealth decision overturned.

"But nonetheless I think it's worth noting that the expectation was he wouldn't be holding the two positions."

She said Pakistan was of great interest to New Zealand because of its border with Afghanistan.

"We have people in Afghanistan. We are intensely interested in how it moves towards stability and I think Pakistan's perspective on that would be of great interest to us."

Other issues likely to be on the agenda are nuclear non-proliferation, terrorism and Pakistan's improving relationship with India.

President Musharraf leaves on Sunday.

Officials say the increased security is because of the "assessed threat to the individual".

The extent of New Zealand's security measures are not known, as police national headquarters refuses to comment. The President will have 10 security staff of his own.

President Musharraf will not go to Wellington because the presence of the Barmy Army has stretched accommodation.

Pakistan

* Created in 1947 with the partition of the Indian subcontinent.

* President Pervez Musharraf came to power in a coup in 1999 and continues in dual roles as head of state and chief of the Army, causing continued Commonwealth concern.

* He visits NZ from Thursday to Sunday, the first bilateral visit by a Pakistani President.

* Relations with NZ are described by officials as "friendly but slight".