Brussels, 17/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - In Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday next, a European Troika, at the level of Asia Director level, will meet General Pervez Musharraf and several representatives of the military government which took power in Pakistan through a coup d'état a year ago. Without formally resuming the regular "political dialogue" between the EU and Pakistan, suspended a year ago, the Europeans intend stepping up the pressure for a return to democracy in Pakistan during this "ad hoc political dialogue", avoiding totally isolating this regime beleaguered by the rise of Islamic groups. The meetings will also allow them to discuss conflicts in the region, notably in Afghanistan and Kashmir (You may recall that the European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the Council to put pressure on Pakistan not to provide support for the Talibans).
The EU had already suspended the signing of the EU/Pakistan cooperation agreement, concluded in 1998, following the nuclear tests in Pakistan and India. Because of that, relations with the two parties are governed by the earlier cooperation agreement.