ISLAMABAD, March 16: US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives here on Wednesday for a two-day visit during which he will conduct 'comprehensive' consultations with the Pakistani leadership.
His visit to Pakistan is part of a three-nation South Asian tour that includes India and Afghanistan. Secretary Powell, who last visited Pakistan in July 2002, will be accompanied, among others, by Assistant Secretary Christina Rocca and Under Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Alan Larson.
Mr Powell is scheduled to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Thursday. He will also hold delegation-level talks with his Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri at the foreign office the same day.
Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan told Dawn on Tuesday that agenda for the meetings would be comprehensive. He said Pakistan-US ties, thaw in Indo-Pakistan relations, non-proliferation measures, terrorism and situation in Afghanistan and Iraq would figure in talks.
Asked which of the issues were likely to draw more attention, the spokesman said: "There will be equal emphasis on all issues". Officials said focus would be on ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the war against terrorism and building of a meaningful long-term and broad-based relationship, particularly in economic and security fields.
"Both sides will also discuss the recent measures taken by the government of Pakistan to ensure nuclear non-proliferation," said an official statement on Monday.
Mr Powell's visit to the region at this juncture is also seen by some observers as an electioneering gimmick for the Bush administration. This will be Mr Powell's fourth visit to Pakistan and first this year.
Our Washington correspondent adds: Mr Powell is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the State Department said on Tuesday. "As of right now, he's travelling to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," a State Department official told Dawn when asked what would be the secretary's destination in the Middle East. Asked if Mr Powell also intends to visit the US troops in Iraq, the official said: "Not so far, but things change."