US President George W. Bush on Friday arrived in Islamabad for his first visit to Pakistan. Bush left for Pakistan on Friday night wrapping up a "successful" three-day visit during which he clinched a landmark nuclear agreement with India.
Bush and his wife Laura were seen off at the Palam Technical Airport by American Ambassador to India David C Mulford.
Air Force One carrying Bush, Laura, and a high-level delegation, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley among others took off from the airport at 1950 hours.
A decoy plane also took off from the airport shortly after Air Force One.
Curiously, no minister was present at the airport to see him off.
Bush, who was scheduled to leave Saturday morning, advanced his departure and will now spend a night in the Pakistani capital.
A day ahead of the US President's arrival in Islamabad, two powerful bombs exploded near the US consulate in Karachi killing at least five persons, including an American diplomat.
"Terrorists and killers cannot prevent me from going to Pakistan," he said at a press conference Thursday.