ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is likely to visit Islamabad early next year.

Diplomatic sources said that Mr Koizumi would visit Islamabad in the first week of January 2004, soon after the Saarc summit. The visit might span over three days. The sources said the Japanese prime minister would also visit India, and if the security situation in Afghanistan was found satisfactory he might go to Kabul as well.

The sources said the Japanese prime minister’s visit to the region would span over six days.

During his stay in Pakistan, Mr Koizumi is expected to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf and discuss the bilateral and regional issues, in addition to matters pertaining to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The Japanese prime minister in his talks with President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee would urge the two leaders to improve bilateral relations by resolving the dispute over Kashmir.