WASHINGTON, May 5: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage held a key meeting with ISI chief Lt-Gen Ehsanul Huq on Monday before leaving for a visit to South Asia.

From Washington, Mr Armitage flies to London where he will be holding similar talks with Indian National Security Adviser Brijesh Mishra before moving on to Islamabad.

Diplomatic sources say that the US delegation is seeking a full brief on militancy in Kashmir before arriving in South Asia.

Besides Mr Armitage, the ISI chief also had a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday and was scheduled to meet Vice-President Dick Cheney later in the afternoon.

The chief of Pakistan’s military intelligence arrived in Washington on Sunday on a week-long visit.

Although both US and Pakistani officials are refusing to give any information about his visit, Gen Huq’s itinerary reveals the importance of his talks in Washington.

The general finishes his Monday engagements after meeting the vice-president, and is scheduled to meet national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security Secretary chief Tom Ridge.