In a strategically significant visit to the US and UK, Dy PM L.K. Advani will meet President George Bush and British PM Tony Blair during his 10-day tour starting June 7. The agenda of the visit, according to sources, would be terrorism, cross-border infiltration by Pakistan and other security issues, in addition to bilateral ties. Advani would be visiting the US as a guest of Vice-President Dick Cheney.The meetings assume significance in the wake of Bush’s assurance to Vajpayee in St. Petersburg that he would take up the issue of cross-border terrorism with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Washington later this month.During his week-long stay in the US, Advani would also hold talks with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Though the time of the meeting with Bush is still not confirmed, sources say it is expected to be either on June 9 or June 10.Advani is also scheduled to meet Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge and US Attorney General John Ashcroft. Besides Washington, Advani is also scheduled to visit New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. In LA, he would be visiting Rand Corporation, a prestigious think tank on counter-terrorism and security matters. In New York, his meetings are essentially with non-governmental organisations.On June 15 and 16, he would be in London holding discussions with Blair and Dy PM John Prescott. He is also scheduled to meet Home Secretary David Blunkett and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.Sources said that no agreements were likely to be signed during Advani’s two-nation tour.
