WASHINGTON, May 30: The United States envoy in Ghana, Nancy Powell, was getting ready on Thursday to leave for Pakistan to take over as charge d’affaires at the American embassy in Islamabad.

It is believed that Ms Powell will be in place before the June 6 visit of Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage, who is going to Pakistan and India as part of a coordinated international effort to prevent the two countries from engaging in open conflict.

Ms Powell will head the US embassy in Islamabad till a permanent replacement is found for Wendy Chamberlin, who gave up her post to be with her daughters in America after embassy families were asked by the state department to leave Pakistan because of terrorist activities.

Ms Powell has previously served as deputy chief of mission in Dhaka, as consul-general in Kolkatta and as political counsellor at the US embassy in New Delhi.