WASHINGTON, June 8: India’s Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani arrived in Washington on Sunday for talks that may influence the recent peace moves in the subcontinent, officials said.

“The talks are expected to focus on terrorism, cross-border infiltration and India’s reservations on deployment of its troops in Iraq,” an Indian embassy spokesman told reporters.

Mr Advani, although a guest of Vice President Dick Cheney, is hoping to meet President George W. Bush.

His schedule that includes meetings with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Home Security chief Tom Ridge, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

However, he is unlikely to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Advani’s visit comes two weeks ahead of a summit meeting between President Bush and President Pervez Musharraf at Camp David, Maryland, on June 24. The selection of Camp David, a presidential resort reserved for important bilateral talks, has alarmed the Indian lobby in Washington, which sees it as an undue favour to Pakistan. President Musharraf is the first South Asian leader invited to Camp David.

Ms Rice told newsmen in Washington that the agenda for talks with India and Pakistan would be broad reflecting Washington’s expanding ties with both.