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Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf met US ambassador to Islamabad Windy Chamberlin late on Friday night amid reports that he has agreed to permit the US and NATO troops to use Pakistan airspace but has reservations to allow ground facilities to launch an all out attack on the hideouts of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Musharraf had a meeting with Chamberlin, their second in the past two days, and briefed her about the deliberations at the Army Corps Commanders meeting in Rawalpindi on Friday, which made certain recommendations to be approved by the cabinet and the national security council (NSC), media reports said in Islamabad on Saturday.
Both the bodies were expected to approve the decisions on Saturday and a response would formally be conveyed to the US, official sources said in Islamabad.
The meeting took place even as US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he awaited word from Musharraf about the list of demands handed over to him a day before.
"The president was reported to have informed her about Pakistan's latest position," local daily The News said.
According to the reports, the list wanted Pakistan to grant its airspace, seal borders with Afghanistan and stop all fuel and other essential supplies from reaching the Taleban controlled Afghan areas.
Reports in the US media already suggested that Pakistan has expressed its willingness to grant its airspace but declined to permit ground facilities fearing violent protests by militant Islamic groups in the country.
An official press release about the commanders conference issued on Friday night said, "The participants were unanimous in strongly condemning the acts of terrorism and resultant human tragedy."
"Several recommendations were made which would be put up to the cabinet and NSC meeting for consideration," it said.
"The participants reviewed the overall security situation in the region with special emphasis on the recent scenario emerging after the terrorist attacks on the US cities resulting in colossal loss of innocent lives and property," the release added.
PTI
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