WASHINGTON, Sept 5: The US State Department announced on Wednesday that Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte would visit Pakistan next week to revive efforts for a strategic partnership between the two countries.

The department described the visit, which begins in the week of Sept 10, as part of his regular consultations with two of America’s “most important strategic partners” in the war against terrorism, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mr Negroponte will visit Pakistan to continue the US-Pakistan Strategic Partnership dialogue, which includes cooperation in counter-terrorism, education, science and technology, and expansion of economic opportunities, the announcement said.

The deputy secretary’s schedule includes meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, and civil society representatives.

In Afghanistan, he would meet President Hamid Karzai, Afghan officials and members of the civil society to discuss cooperation in counter-terrorism and reconstruction progress and achievements since 2001, the department said.