NEW YORK, Sept 21: President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he would raise the issue of conventional arms imbalance in South Asia with US President Bush and other international leaders.

Talking to reporters on his arrival at the Roosevelt Hotel where he is staying during his visit to the United States, Gen Musharraf said India was “uncontrollable” in acquiring conventional weapons, while Pakistan exercised restraint in this respect.

He said India had been making massive arms purchases which had badly affected the balance in conventional weapons.

“I would also discuss the fallout of the international community’s fight against terrorism on the Islamic world with world leaders.”

Earlier, talking to journalists on the flight to New York, he said Pakistan “plans to organize the Muslim ummah on a single platform” to achieve the goal of effective elimination of global terrorism, besides tackling other issues confronting the Muslim fraternity.

Musharraf noted that the Kashmir and Palestine issues had remained on the UN agenda for a long time, and were still outstanding. “It is imperative that the UN addressed these major issues which keep undermining world peace and security,” he stressed.

He said recognition of Israel was out of question unless and until the Palestinian issue was settled. “This has been Pakistan’s principled position,” he added.

He said Pakistan would take a decision about sending troops to Iraq only after a mandate from the people of Pakistan. The country’s decision could only be in consonance with the opinion of the Muslim Ummah, he added.

Replying to a question, he asserted that the government elected by the people was functioning very well. “Mr Jamali has a free hand and his government was devoting its energies to the task of people’s welfare and well-being,” he said. “The system has to continue, and will continue.”

He hoped that the opposition would extend cooperation so that the government could function in the best interest of the country.

When President Musharraf arrived at the JFK international airport here early Sunday morning, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram, and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington, Jehangir Ashraf Kazi, and other diplomats.

The president is here to attend the UN General Assembly’s special session which begins on Tuesday Sept 23. Some 90 heads of states and governments are expected to be in New York for the session.

Gen Musharraf was due to address a Pakistani community meeting at a local hotel later in the evening on Sunday. He will also meet editors of American newspapers and television news channels here.

Besides addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Gen Musharraf would also address the Conference on Terrorism on Monday to be organized by prime minister of Norway in which French President Chirac, German Chancellor Schroeder, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and leaders of Islamic countries are expected to participate.

He will have a series of bilateral meetings with several heads of states and governments on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

Besides US President George Bush, he is also expected to meet French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, King of Morocco, presidents of Mexico and Indonesia.

Gen Musharraf will also host a luncheon for the Organization of Islamic Conference in which Islamic heads of state and governments and foreign ministers from 51 countries will be invited.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, told reporters that the world body meeting was taking place at a crucial juncture of international politics.

“There is a growing concern within the UN members that multilateral and collective approach in handling the global issues has been jeopardized in the aftermath of the Iraq war and differences between the major allies,” Mr Akram said.