WASHINGTON, April 25: Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan arrives in Washington later on Tuesday for the inaugural meeting of the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue, initiated during President Bush’s visit to Islamabad last month.

The two-day talks, which begin on Wednesday, will be co-chaired by Mr Khan and US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

“This is an example of America’s strong ties to Pakistan,” US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher told Dawn. “These are very important meetings for both our countries. Our interest in the region has a key focus on Pakistan, which is an important nation at the core of the region.”

Pakistan’s Ambassador General (retd) Jehangir Karamat, who will also attend the meetings, described the talks as “an over-arching dialogue which brings everything under its ambit.”

The dialogue acquires special significance against the backdrop of Islamabad’s demand for a ‘package approach’ on the US civilian nuclear technology deal with India and Iran’s declaration about having successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel.

Recent media reports have suggested that the Bush administration has been irked by Pakistan making ‘noises’ about the Indo-US deal that is already facing stiff opposition in the US Congress.

The decision to launch an all-compassing dialogue under the Pakistan-US strategic partnership was taken during the Musharraf-Bush summit talks held in Islamabad on March 4. It provides for regular consultations on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“The whole series of issues — strategic relations, development of the country in terms of politics, governance and, economy –- will be discussed with the Pakistani delegation,” said Mr Boucher. “We will also discuss issues like energy and education, to be followed by further dialogue among experts.”

Mr Boucher said that investment and economic dialogue would follow the strategic talks and “you will see further efforts between our two nations in each of these particular fields.”

Gen Karamat said that this ‘very important initiative’ would create a forum for discussion on all issues, “not just US-Pakistan relations but also on global and regional developments.”

The ambassador said that the initiatives announced during President Bush’s visit will also be reviewed.