Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri strongly suggested on Monday that President Pervez Musharraf would give up his post as army chief by year's end as political opponents have demanded and the country's constitution requires.
Musharraf has been viewed as reluctant to give up his army post by the end of the year as required by the constitution, a move that would signal the country's return to civilian rule.
Pressed on whether Americans should conclude from his remarks that the president will definitely vacate his army post, Kasuri said, "I will repeat what I said. President General Pervez Musharraf has said umpteen times that he will abide by the constitution so I think you have a response there."
Kasuri arrived in Washington for an intensive round of 40 meetings over three days including talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates as political turmoil continued to roil Pakistan.
Kasuri played down his trip as routine consultations with Pakistan's major ally. But it follows immediately on trips to Islamabad last week and over the weekend by three key US officials - Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and Admiral William Fallon, chief of the US Central Command.
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