Musharraf to check out Delhi restaurants

Out of power, former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf is determined to have a good time and do all those things he could not do the last time he came here nearly four years ago. He is more "relaxed", wants to go to restaurants, see more of Delhi and meet common people.

"I am feeling very relaxed. Very good," Musharraf told news magazine India Today's editor-in-chief Prabhu Chawla in an interview after arriving here Friday on a two-day visit.

"I will prefer going to restaurantsufffd. and see Jama Masjid and other historic places. I will have a more relaxed time," Musharraf said when asked how he plans to enjoy his first private trip to India. He last came here in April 2005 on an official visit.

"I want to go to restaurants, see people and move among common people," he added.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan for nine long years, will speak on the "Challenge of Change" Saturday at a conclave organised by India Today.

"It's strictly a private visit. There is no meeting planned with anyone in the government," reliable sources told IANS.

Musharraf, who has come to India at a time when ties between the two countries have been virtually frozen after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, said he had requested a meeting with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But the meeting will depend on the BJP leader's health. Vajpayee returned home from hospital Sunday after recovering from pneumonia and other related health problems.

Vajpayee and Musharraf launched the composite dialogue process on Jan 6, 2004. India has put the dialogue on hold after suspicion that Pakistani nationals were involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan has admitted that a part of the Mumbai conspiracy was hatched on its soil. While six Pakistanis have been arrested for the attacks, Islamabad says it is waiting for more evidence from India before starting their trial.

Musharraf's presidential tenure saw the Dec 13, 2001, attack on the Indian parliament that brought the two countries to the brink of war. However, the second half of his tenure saw the resumption of the peace process and the launch of new cross-border bus and train links.

Musharraf is interested in going to Aligarh to visit the famous university, but the trip has not been finalised as yet. It may happen at the last minute, sources said.

Before he left Islamabad for New Delhi, Musharraf underlined the need for the two countries to adopt a "new path of peace and harmony" to confront the common threat of terrorism and extremism.

"We are facing terrorism and extremism as a common threat to the whole world, the region, Pakistan and India. That is what we need to discuss and find solutions (and work) towards a resolution," he told reporters at Islamabad airport before leaving for India.

He was unstinting in his condemnation of the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore earlier this week. The whole of Pakistan is "ashamed" that the cricketers were attacked on its soil, Musharraf had said Thursday.

"It is very bad for cricket and sports in Pakistan," he added.