Pakistan leader in talks with Blair

Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf will meet Tony Blair in Downing Street today to express his dismay over the way America is prosecuting the war against Afghanistan.

President Musharraf has been unsettled by what appears to be an American plan to use the rebel Northern Alliance to split Afghanistan in two.

The strategy involves driving the Taliban out of the northern provinces into southern strongholds. The northern entity, defended by air power and ground troops from neighbouring Uzbekistan, would be separated from Taliban territory by an east-west line. Crucial to the plan is vast resources of aid which is believed could help to counter opposition from the civilian Afghan population to American intervention.

President Musharraf has been pressingthe Americans to reveal their war aims amid complaints it is keeping its strategy secret. On his way to London, President Musharraf stopped in Istanbul to make public his opposition to splitting Afghanistan. Even if partition works, it is said in Pakistan, it will not be feasible to launch a viable political initiative from whatever entity is created.

But there is a view that Washington believes it could work and show its war against terror is achieving something. It is believed America will commit ground troops to the northern entity and that it wants to create a coalition that could be seen as international. While European states including Britain have indicated support, what Washington wants is a heavy Islamic presence to counter accusations it is waging a war against Islam. Turkey has signed up for the idea and President Musharraf expects to be asked to send troops from Pakistan.

The idea sends shockwaves through the Pakistan government. President Musharraf flies to Washington after his London talks and is expected to tell President Bush he will not fight outside Pakistan's borders.

He is also likely to renew his appeal for a pause in bombing during Ramadan which starts in nine days. Before leaving Islamabad, President Musharraf ordered security forces to round up religious leaders who have called for a mass protest tomorrow. Two leaders, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, are under house arrest.