ISLAMABAD, March 26: The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, would be visiting Pakistan on April 15 and 16 according to a "prospective schedule", sources said.

When asked about the visit of the US defence secretary, Pakistan's foreign office spokesman did not deny the possibility of the visit but said he could not confirm it.

In response to the same question about the visit, the US embassy spokesperson said: "It cannot be confirmed." However, the US official said rumours to this effect were heard.

Mr Rumsfeld's expected visit is in the wake of important steps announced by the US vis-a-vis Pakistan's status as a non- Nato ally which as the US secretary of state Colin Powell later explained is a military-to-military arrangement between the two countries.

Secretary Rumsfeld's visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the leadership of the two countries to reach important decisions related to the war against terrorism, situation in Afghanistan, the progress in Pakistan-India peace process, nuclear non-proliferation issues, training of Pakistani defence services' officers in the US, Pakistan's defence shopping list for the year to be financed by about $350 million of the $700 million of US assistance expected to be disbursed during 2004-05 from the $3 billion of aid pledged by President Bush last year at the Camp David meeting with President Gen Musharraf.

The renewed hunt for Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants in the region was launched on the initiative of Mr Rumsfeld and he would like to see some good results delivered before the US elections, a source said, adding, the visit would include other regional countries as well.