ISLAMABAD, March 11: US Secretary of State Colin Powell is arriving here on March 17. Informed sources said here on Thursday that Mr Powell would discuss with the Pakistan leadership issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation , bilateral cooperation, of accelerating war on terror and ways of ensuring lasting peace and security in South Asia during his stay in Islamabad.

The sources said that the signing of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would also be raised by the US Secretary of State during the talks. Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan when contacted said that Pakistan was a nuclear weapon state and if it was recognized as a nuclear power it would consider signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

However, Mr Khan said the major focus of Mr Powell's visit was to ensure continuation of the peace process between Pakistan and India.