Commonwealth discusses Pakistan

By Barnaby Mason
BBC diplomatic correspondent

Pakistan says it has met all criteria for readmission

Commonwealth foreign ministers are meeting in London on Saturday to decide whether to re-admit Pakistan.

Pakistan was suspended in 1999 when General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a military coup.

Commonwealth diplomats told the BBC that the outcome of the meeting was finely balanced.

Pakistan's government has been lobbying behind the scenes - though opposition parties have urged the Commonwealth to maintain the suspension.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, told Reuters news agency that the main criterion was Pakistan's democratic credentials.

He said ministers would also look at recent moves deepening the country's relations with other international organisations.

Western pressure

Diplomats have told the BBC that the UK, which is not a member of the Commonwealth ministerial group responsible for the decision, has been pushing hard for Pakistan to be re-instated.

The UK and Australia, allies of the US, would like to see President Musharraf rewarded for his co-operation in the drive to track down al-Qaeda.

COMMONWEALTH MINISTERIAL ACTION GROUP India Sri Lanka Nigeria Tanzania Lesotho Canada Bahamas Malta Samoa

That argument cut no ice last year, when African governments angry at the continued exclusion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth refused to readmit another country whose leader had seized power in a coup.

A key question at the London meeting, which ends on Saturday, will be the attitude of India, Pakistan's traditional rival.

An Indian official is expected to attend, even though the new prime minister-designate, Manmohan Singh, has yet to form a government. He has spoken warmly of continuing the rapprochement with Pakistan.

Commonwealth officials have welcomed positive moves in the past few months: the elected Pakistani parliament has passed a measure endorsing General Musharraf's status as president, while he has indicated he will step down from his post as army chief by the end of the year.

But diplomats say recent action against opposition leaders has raised fresh doubt about Pakistan's democratic credentials.