Egyptian president arrives in Islamabad

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a state visit at the head of a high-powered delegation on the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari.The last bilateral visit was by late Jamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s.President Mursi’s visit to Islamabad is being seen as a watershed and a landmark in the traditional and friendly relations between the two large and important Muslim countries.The Egyptian president’s decision to choose Pakistan as the first South Asian country for a bilateral visit manifests Egypt’s desire to add a new chapter to its bilateral ties with Pakistan.The engagements of President Mursi include a one-on-one meeting with President Zardari, followed by delegation level talks and luncheon banquet hosted by the president.The two leaders are expected to hold extensive discussions on all areas of bilateral relations, including regional and international issues of mutual interest. They would also be signing a number of agreements.President Mursi’s visit is expected to impart dynamism to the bilateral ties and to expand, diversify and strengthen relations between the two countries in all spheres.