ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: Commander in Chief for the US Central Command, General Tommy Franks, is expected to arrive in Islamabad within the next 36 hours to hold meetings with Pakistani military leadership about “sharing facilities” inside Pakistan.

According to diplomatic sources, Gen Franks would also hold discussions with Pakistani leadership about accounting for all materials, programmes and weapons of mass destruction in a manner which is internationally verifiable.

Gen Franks, sources said, would offer to supplement the efforts of Pakistan in securing the weapons of mass destruction from theft or threat of proliferation with international funds if required. Nato is seeking to draw up a list of countries that have weapons of mass destruction, fearing terrorism with those weapons as a new threat.

The new NATO role, according to the US documents available with Dawn, seeks to work with each nation state to formulate programmes of continuing accountability and destruction which may be of mutual benefit to the safety of citizens.