Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf will visit the Philippines on April 18-20 and is expected to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her office announced Friday. It will be the first state visit to Manila by a Pakistani president since diplomatic ties were established in September 1949, and it reciprocates a 1997 state visit to Pakistan of former President Fidel Ramos. Arroyo and Musharraf _ staunch U.S. allies who will be meeting for the first time _ are expected to discuss the global fight against terrorism, ongoing peace talks between Manila and Muslim separatist rebels, and the Philippines' bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference, where Pakistan is a key member. Musharraf is scheduled to address a special joint session of the Philippine Congress on April 19, the press statement added. Three other Pakistani leaders visited the Philippines, including Benazir Bhutto in 1995, but those trips were not considered official state visits.
