LONDON, Sept 14: President Asif Ali Zardari who arrived here on Sunday morning from Dubai will be meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday to discuss America’s unilateral decision to send missiles and men into Pakistan territory.

Pakistan has already warned the US and President Zardari is expected to reiterate his government’s position on the matter when he meets Mr Brown.

Contrary to media speculations, the UK has so far made no public commitment one way or the other in response to US request to support its move and also join it in the raids across the border.

The British prime minister did not say yes or no when he was asked at his regular monthly conference on Sept 11, if he approved the policy of sending troops into Pakistan from across Afghanistan.

His answer implied that he would make up his mind after consulting the presidents of Pakistan and the US. He has already talked to President Bush.

When he talks to the Pakistani leader for what he said ‘evolving a new security strategy for the Pakistan-Afghan border area’ the British prime minister whose political fortunes and that of his party are on the decline lately will be mindful of the fact that there are in his country almost one million Britons of Pakistani origin, most of whom are Labour supporters.

Mr Brown’s decision one way or the other is also expected to be influenced by the position taken by Nato’s European members, all of whom have opposed the US action.

Originally President Zardari was to make an official one-day stopover in London to meet the British prime minister on his way to the UN some time immediately after September 20.

However, since Prime Minister Gordon Brown would be busy at the annual Labour Party conference from Sept 20 onwards, his meeting with Mr Zardari was brought forward and Pakistani President’s private visit on Sept 14-15 was extended by one day and his stay here on Tuesday has been designated as official.

The Zardari-Brown meeting for Sept 16 was finalised by the two leaders when Brown telephoned Zardari to congratulate him on his election to his country’s highest office.

Mr Zardari who arrived here by a commercial flight from Dubai was received by the Heathrow Airport by Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan and senior chancery officials.

Immediately after arrival, the president left for Edinburgh with his daughter Bakhtawar and the high commissioner. He was expected to return to London later in the evening after settling his daughter in her hostel. This routine of ‘handing over’ the wards to hostel authorities by parents and guardians is held on Sundays so that the students are in place in time to start classes from Monday.