ISLAMABAD, July 23: The European Union high representative for the commission’s foreign and security policy, Javier Solana, will arrive here on Saturday ahead of the US secretary of state Colin Powell’s peace mission to the region.

During his visit the EU’s top foreign policy advisor is likely to hold talks with President Gen Pervez Musharraf, minister of state for foreign affairs Inamul Haq, and other key government officials, informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

They said Solana’s visit here will be “brief” as he will also be meeting Indian leaders. His visit to the region is seen as part of the ongoing shuttle diplomacy by the international community to ease tensions between the two South Asian nuclear armed rivals.

This will be Solana’s second visit to Pakistan. He was here last year, shortly after the Sept 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington.

US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage and French foreign minister are expected to visit the region next month. Pakistan has made it clear to the international community, particularly the US and UK, that it has taken all measures it could to control the alleged infiltration and the ball was now in India’s court.