Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday voiced support, on behalf of the European Union, to Pakistan in fighting terrorism at a meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Kouchner, who flew in on Tuesday for a two-day visit with a team of forensic experts, said his purpose was to "strongly offer the support" from the EU in fighting terrorism.
The minister said the EU was keen on seeing the parliamentary elections slated for Jan. 8 to be held as scheduled. However, it was for the country's Election Commission to decide the date, he added.
Musharraf reiterated his commitment to free, fair and transparent polls, the official Associated Press of Pakistan said,adding that the two also discussed regional security issues.
Kouchner was the first high-ranking foreign official to visit Islamabad since Pakistani former prime minister Benazir Bhutto waskilled in a gun-and-bomb attack on Dec. 27.
Kouchner, who said he was speaking on behalf of the 27-member European Union, said he was not demanding an international investigation into Bhutto's assassination but would contribute forensic experts to help with the investigation.
Heavy security was deployed at Liaqat Bagh park on Wednesday in Rawalpindi, where Bhutto died after she left an election rally.
Source:Xinhua
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