WASHINGTON, Feb 9: Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is coming to the United States later this month amid a major review of the US strategy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This will be his first visit to the United States since he replaced former president Pervez Musharraf as the army chief on Nov 28, 2007.

Gen Kayani arrives on Feb 22 on a week-long trip on the invitation of Gen George W. Casey, chief of staff of the US Army.

He is expected to meet Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Chairman US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and chief of the US Central Command Gen David Petraeus, who oversees the US-led war against terrorism in the Afghan-Pakistan region.

Gen Kayani, who is a 1988 graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, will also visit his alma mater.

The general’s trip, although being described by the two militaries as a “formal visit”, has generated a lot of interest in Washington’s diplomatic circles.

Diplomatic observers have noted that he is coming when the Obama administration is reviewing the entire US policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It is believed here that he will meet at least some of those US officials who are playing a key role in formulating the future US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Excerpts of the new strategy leaked to the US media show that the United States expects the Pakistan Army to play a key role in eradicating terrorism from the region.

Although the new strategy places greater emphasis on strengthening democratic institutions in Pakistan, Senator John Kerry, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Dawn last week that the US also appreciated the army’s sacrifices in the war against terror.

He assured Pakistan that no new restrictions would be placed on US military aid to Pakistan.