ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Apprehensive of the growing influence of Taliban militants in settled areas of the NWFP, the top American diplomat for South Asia, Richard Boucher, assured Pakistan on Saturday of assistance in improving capabilities of its law-enforcement agencies to fight militants.

The Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who arrived here on Saturday, kicked off his visit by meeting the Adviser on Interior, Rehman Malik.

US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson and Interior Secretary Kamal Shah were also present.

Sources in the interior ministry said that Mr Boucher offered to provide gadgets like night goggles and vehicles to improve capability of law-enforcement agencies.

Mr Boucher called for more efforts to eradicate militancy, the sources said.

He also discussed the relief operation for the people displaced by fighting in Bajaur.

The US has provided $8 million to the government to help the displaced.

Mr Boucher’s visit comes at a time when the US military is about to begin a training programme for the Frontier Constabulary.

The US deployed a small unit of 25 Special Forces personnel in Pakistan this week to bolster the ability of the Frontier Corps to fight militancy.

Pakistan had earlier rejected its forces to be trained by US troops after US attacked a border checkpoint, killing scores of paramilitary personnel.

US Embassy spokesman

Lou Fintor rejected an impression that Mr Boucher was on an unscheduled visit, saying the visit had been planned in advance.