Islamabad, Feb 04: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left here today on a three-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was seen off by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali at the PAF base.

Vice chief of the Army Staff Gen Muhammad Yousaf, top civil and military officials were also present to see him off. Musharraf took off from the Chaklala Airforce base near Islamabad just after 1030 IST accompanied by his wife Sehba, finance adviser Shaukat Aziz, commerce minister Humayun Akhtar and senior officials from the defence, foreign affairs, economic and petroleum ministries.

The military ruler, on the first visit to Russia by a Pakistani president in over 20 years, is scheduled to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and address businessmen tomorrow. Putin and Musharraf are expected to sign bilateral agreements dealing with economic and defence cooperation, Pakistan foreign ministry said. The two leaders are also expected to discuss Indo-Pak relations and the issue of Kashmir.

Bureau Report