WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan will be one of the most important trips she has made since she became the US Secretary of State, says America’s special envoy for the region.

‘And I think the whole world will be watching,’ said Richard Holbrooke.

The envoy was talking to journalists near Washington on Saturday evening after a frank but off-the-record exchange of views with the Pakistani-American community.

The US State Department announced last week that Secretary Clinton would travel to Pakistan soon, but refused to disclose her itinerary due to security reasons.

Senior US officials told Dawn that the Secretary’s security staff had advised Mrs Clinton to wait for the violence to subside but she insisted that now was the time to visit Pakistan when the country was struggling to combat extremists.

Mr Holbrooke, the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said that Secretary Clinton will meet Pakistani leaders, members of the civil society, the opposition and the business community.

The announcement of her trip came a day after the US Senate passed a defence spending bill that includes military aid to Pakistan but with restrictions that may upset Pakistani officials who already complain that the Americans are interfering in their internal affairs.

The bill imposes limits on how Pakistan gets reimbursed from a $1.6 billion fund used to support countries that help US counter-terror efforts.

One provision of it says that aid to Pakistan must not ‘affect the balance of power in the region’ -- meaning Pakistan should not use US funding to build up defences against India.

It also says the US Defence Department must certify that Pakistan is making ‘concerted efforts’ to fight Al Qaeda and the Taliban before it can receive the money.

Pakistani officials complained that similar restrictions in a separate US bill for non-military aid to Pakistan undermined the country’s sovereignty. One contentious section of the $7.5 billion Kerry-Lugar bill requires the US secretary of state to periodically verify that Pakistan’s civilian government is exercising control over the military.

Mr Holbrooke, however, did not see these irritants as major problems, insisting that Secretary Clinton would focus on the ‘real needs of the Pakistani people’ during her visit.

‘She is bringing a message of friendship and support to a country under tremendous pressure. She is going to discuss the IDPs (internally displaced persons) issue. She is going to focus on the real needs of the Pakistani people,’ he said.

The meeting, where Mr Holbrooke was the key speaker, was linked to Mrs Clinton’s desire to help Pakistan overcome its social and economic problems.

Hosted by Pakistan’s Ambassador at-Large Rafat Mahmood, it brought together Pakistani-Americans from across the United States under an umbrella organisation initiated by the secretary.

The American-Pakistan Foundation aims at involving Americans of Pakistani origin in socio-economic development in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Mr Holbrooke noted that Secretary Clinton’s visit was taking place at a time when Pakistan was striving to overcome multiple energy, economic and terrorism challenges.

‘I think this is one of the most important trips she has made since she became Secretary of State and I think the whole world will be watching,’ he said. ‘And I want to stress that she comes to Pakistan as a friend, not with conditions but with support for the democratically elected government and the people of Pakistan.’

Mr Holbrooke said the secretary would speak about the needs of the people of Pakistan and the ways the people of the United States could help the people of Pakistan.

‘This is a people-to-people trip. It’s an expression of the support of President Obama and his administration,’ Mr Holbrooke said.

The Pakistani media have reported that Secretary Clinton may announce a major initiative on energy partnership with Pakistan.