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The general, who seized power in October, also stated it would be "regrettable" if President Bill Clinton did not visit Pakistan during a trip he is planning to the region in March. Clinton is to visit India and then Bangladesh during his tour that is set to start from March 20. No decisions have been made about other stops.
Washington has been pressing Pakistani military rulers to set a timetable for a return to civilian rule, curb militant groups and use its influence with the Taliban to expel bin Laden.
Musharraf warned that leaving Pakistan off Clinton's itinerary would send the wrong signal to India. "To put it crudely, (India) might feel that Pakistan had been ditched," said Musharraf.
Pakistan and India both hold parts of the divided Himalayan state of Kashmir, which is claimed by both. They have fought two wars over the largely Muslim territory since their independence in 1947. India exceedingly accuses Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism and aiding Islamist groups waging a campaign in Kashmir that has claimed more than 25,000 lives since 1989. Islamabad denies the charge.
Tensions between the two countries reached a low point in May 1998 with each carrying out nuclear tests.
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