ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: US Secretary of State Colin Powell is arriving here on Wednesday to hold talks with the Pakistani authorities for de-escalating the tense situation in the region.

Official sources said here on Friday that President Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar will brief Mr Powell on the fast deteriorating situation in the region and the looming threat of war due to “increasing, unreasonable demands” of India.

The US secretary of state, who is to arrive here after meeting the Indian leaders in New Delhi, is expected to discuss the Indian demand of extraditing 20 alleged terrorists from Pakistan.

However, Pakistani officials rule out the possibility of extraditing any accused on the grounds that no extradition treaty exists between the two countries.

Besides, officials say, India had failed to provide any substantial evidence about the involvement of these 20 people in the Dec 13 terrorist attack on the Indian parliament.

Mr Powell’s visit is taking place at a time when Indian Interior Minister Advani is currently visiting the United States and has already met President Bush and the secretary of state. Now Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes is to visit Washington shortly.

The US and Western diplomats stationed in Islamabad believe that in case President Musharraf announces imposition of ban on extremist religious parties like Jaish-i-Muhammad, Lashkar-i- Taiba, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Therik-i-Jaferia, in his address to the nation, it will largely satisfy the West and India will be forced to de-escalate the situation.

“This is a difficult time but we do appreciate what Musharraf is doing, and doing much before Sept 11, to curb terrorism,” a Western diplomat said.

He said that Pakistan was an ally of the United States without whose support, action against Taliban and Al-Qaeda was not possible.

The diplomat expressed his hope that President Musharraf would announce new measures to help remove the clouds of war in the region. “Nobody is in favour of a war and the US and its Western allies are trying to avert the chances of war through diplomacy,” the diplomat said, choosing anonymity.

Mr Powell said on Wednesday in Washington that despite many visible actions, including the arrests of JEM and LET leaders, room still existed for taking more steps against the extremist groups in Pakistan.