WASHINGTON, March 27: US State Department’s new head for South and Central Asia will visit Pakistan next week as part of the ongoing consultations between the two countries to build up on the understanding reached during President Bush’s visit, officials said.

Also next week, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao is coming to Washington to attend a counter-terrorism conference and for meetings with senior US officials.

Richard Boucher, US assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, will be in Islamabad from April 4 to April 6 while Mr Sherpao will stay in the US capital from April 2 to 8.

“This is also a familiarisation visit for Mr Boucher, a chance for him to meet Pakistani officials,” a State Department official told Dawn.

The official recalled that Mr Boucher could not visit Islamabad with President Bush early next month and instead went to Karachi because of the death of a US diplomat and three Pakistani citizens in a terrorist bombing.

“Mr Boucher has been to Pakistan before but not in his present position,” the State Department official said.

“These consultations are linked to the energy and strategic dialogue initiated during President Bush’s visit,” Ambassador Jehangir Karamat said.

Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and US Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns will meet soon to discuss various proposals for strengthening strategic ties between the two countries, the ambassador said.